A striking green moss wall. It is the first thing that catches a visitor's eye in the lobby of the diagnostics company Genomill. There is, of course, plenty more to see in the premises after that – especially if you know something about laboratories.
The development company Genomill, which focuses on cancer diagnostics, moved to new premises on the 7th floor of PharmaCity in 2022. The company had previously operated in the same building but in Werstas Labs, located a few floors down, where it had a laboratory of about 30 square meters.
New premises became relevant after Genomill outgrew its old laboratory. Since the company's goals are high, the premises must also be in line with the operations, says the company's CEO Kalle Koskinen.
– Our goal is to develop cancer precision diagnostics for liquid biopsies to be licensed to major players. Our main market consists of diagnostic and sequencing platform companies operating in the United States. Since our products represent extremely high-level technology, it is important that our employees enjoy working here and that the space creates a good atmosphere, says Koskinen.
In addition to a spacious laboratory, Genomill's 259-square-meter premises include a meeting room, a kitchen, a lobby, and Koskinen's own office. The company's six employees enjoy the workplace even more now, and lunch is often enjoyed together in their own kitchen. The premises have been designed so that there is also room for an increase in the number of employees.
The style of the office space is a combination of Scandinavian and Asian. The style was also considered in the laboratory, where, instead of the traditional yellow plastic flooring used in laboratories, they wanted vinyl parquet. For the walls of the lobby and kitchen, Koskinen found inspiration online.
– I had pictures on Pinterest of the style we wanted, such as wooden slats, green walls, and indirect lighting. Based on these, Teknologiakiinteistöt created a timeless space for us, where even a law firm could certainly operate just as well. The solutions were implemented cost-effectively, and all old materials were sent for recycling.
A lot of effort has also been put into sound control and good ventilation in the space. Windows facing two different directions bring natural light into the space. According to Koskinen, the best part of the premises, however, is the laboratory.
– Our wishes and ideas were fully realized in the renovation. Our laboratory is really good; there aren't many like it – not even in the world's most prestigious places. This is incredibly good for us, Koskinen concludes.
Genomill
Industry: Biotechnology
Founded: 2016
Employees: 10
Slogan: "Impossible is nothing"