How ARCO integrates One Click LCA to design greener, more sustainable cities

About ARCO 

ARCO Architecture Company, one of Finland's leading architectural firms, utilizes One Click LCA and ENVI-met to explore sustainable design options throughout all stages of projects. ARCO works on a range of projects, spanning hospitals, residential areas, schools, landscape design, office complexes, and hotels. It was founded in 2021, when three renowned Finnish architectural firms Aihio Arkkitehdit Oy, Arkkitehdit Soini & Horto Oy, and Cederqvist & Jäntti Arkkitehdit Oy joined forces and combined their expertise — the growth soon continued when Schauman Arkkitehdit Oy and Avario Oy joined the team to form the new Arco community. Today ARCO's team of 180 experts is based across Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, and Oulu. 

Rethinking the role of architecture for a more sustainable future

Since its inception, ARCO has considered the evolving role of architecture office in the age of climate change. In a 2021 article, ARCO partner Marja-Liisa Honkanen reflected on the delicate balance between reducing carbon emissions, achieving aesthetic goals, and respecting the environment's needs. She wrote, "Placing buildings in the landscape to create a harmonious whole is a fine tradition in Finnish architecture. Now it is time to position construction to fit the planet’s carrying capacity."

Sustainable design has since become a core element and expertise of ARCO's work. With One Click LCA, the team can actively reduce the embodied carbon, support circular design principles, and evaluate materials for flexibility and longevity — all from the earliest design stages. 

"Understanding the source of carbon emissions in our projects has become increasingly important. One Click LCA gives us valuable insights for integrating decarbonization into our design process."

— Stefan Ochsner, Project Manager and Architect, ARCO Architecture Company

In 2024, ARCO earned an EcoCompass certification to further demonstrate its commitment to environmentally conscious architecture and sustainable building practices.

Using ENVI-met to analyze the environmental impact of designs — at large and small scales

To assess how design choices influence thermal comfort, wind flow, and vegetation, ARCO uses ENVI-met from One Click LCA — an advanced microclimate simulation tool that analyzes the environmental impact of designs. The firm applies it at both city and site scale, whether planning a master plan or optimizing conditions for a courtyard. This is especially valuable for projects in hot climate zones, such as Bangladesh, where ARCO is currently designing a 130-meter high-rise building. 

"ENVI-met allows us to simulate real building shapes with specific materials, soil types, and plants. It's a powerful way to evaluate the effects of our design before building it."

— Stefan Ochsner, Project Manager & Architect, ARCO Architecture Company

Previously, ARCO used multiple digital tools to verify wind, natural daylight, shading, and thermal comfort; however, the firm now extends their digital toolbox with ENVI-met because it offers all these capabilities while providing more options for customization. Even in regions like Finland, where the effects of the climate crisis are not yet as palpable, ARCO finds the tool "extremely beneficial" for understanding whether a proposed design will improve or negatively impact local microclimates. 

Differentiating designs with ENVI-met's microclimate simulation

ENVI-met has been integrated into ARCO’s design process across a range of projects. In a recent international and domestic projects, the team utilized microclimate simulation software to investigate how green facades, green roofs and urban vegetation could mitigate the urban heat island effects, and to simulate wind loads and turbulence at key outdoor area.

Beyond urban development projects, ARCO's landscape architects also benefit from ENVI-met's precision. Particularly, the ability to test the impact of soil conditions, vegetation choices, and their relationship to local climate conditions.

Conclusion: Designing for a livable future with data-driven tools

ARCO believes that restoring balance to our planet’s ecosystem requires the integration of emerging knowledge and innovative methods, data-driven analytical tools are a compelling example of this approach. By combining One Click LCA and ENVI-met, ARCO is able to reconcile design choices with environmental goals, creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also climate-conscious and resilient.

One Click LCA empowers ARCO to measure and reduce embodied carbon from the outset of a project. Meanwhile,  ENVI-met supports precise simulations that help architects and planners fine-tune how designs interact with their local microclimates. Together, these tools enable ARCO to back design decisions with data, improve the lived experience of urban spaces, and strengthen sustainability services as a strategic business differentiator.