Design
We provide multidisciplinary design expertise for rail and infrastructure projects, with particular strength in railway design and a deep understanding of how infrastructure projects are delivered. Our expertise covers technical design, design coordination and information management, as well as geotechnical, environmental and landscape design.
Consistently high-quality design
Welado provides design services to cities, local authorities, the government and private sector clients. The strength of Welado’s design work lies in our in-depth understanding of the railway system, the implementation process for infrastructure projects – including their timetables and cost frameworks – and, above all, the client’s wishes and needs. We possess particular expertise in track design. We also have a clear understanding of the timeframe within which projects progress and how a design brief should be defined or broken down so that it can be implemented sensibly.
High-quality design is about service-mindedness and communication
Welado’s designers understand what the client needs and what interests them in the design process and the design itself. The cornerstone of smooth collaboration is well-thought-out processes for dialogue, technical design and documentation. By adhering to consistent operating models for every project we design, the quality of our design and operations remains consistent and easily verifiable.
As a small and agile unit, we are able to practise community-driven approaches and transparency in all our activities. We believe this enhances flexibility and collaboration, thereby ensuring our clients receive the best possible service and expertise.
To maintain our independence, the design business is carried out by Welado Design Oy. As independence is paramount, we do not work on the same projects as Welado Oy. However, Welado offers comprehensive expertise across various specialist areas of construction, all under one roof. We are able to deliver diverse projects by tailoring our service package to the client’s specific needs. In our blog post, you can read more about how we ensure independence is maintained between Welado Design and Welado.
Cultural change in the construction industry
Our mission is to be a pioneer and to drive a cultural shift in the construction industry towards a more people-centred approach, including from a design perspective. Welado’s aim is to create a community where every expert thrives and feels that Welado is a safe and inspiring platform on which to apply their expertise in a way that is meaningful to them. The well-being of our designers is reflected in high-quality design and a smooth project experience for the client.
Welado is known for the bold and effective way in which we nurture young people in the infrastructure and construction sectors. A willingness to guide and support young designers as they take their first steps in their careers is something that unites Welado’s designers. Our mission is, in particular, to help address the shortage of resources in the infrastructure sector through a mentoring concept tailored to design. This enables us to nurture new, thriving experts for the sector.
High-quality design is about service-mindedness and communication
In the design business, we view things through the lens of the familiar Welado values: boldly open, empathetic and the best for our people.
- Openness means sharing information as openly as possible and having a flat hierarchy, whilst also being honest about where we stand.
- Empathy means working towards shared goals with a human touch.
- The best for our people means a workplace and atmosphere that is why the best experts in our fields choose Welado as their employer.
The job description in the employment contracts of Welado’s designers also states that the most important task for every Welado employee is to enable the success of others and the well-being of the working community.
Our design expertise includes
Railway Design
Design Management & Coordination
BIM & Information Management
Geotechnical Design
Environmental & Landscape Design
Stormwater Planning & Design
Earthworks & Mass Management
Earthworks & Mass Management
Our range of services covers all the most common design and consultancy services relating to railways. Our work is underpinned by solid experience and an understanding of the specific characteristics of the railway environment. Our specialist expertise covers, amongst other things, the following areas of design: track geometry analyses and comparative studies of alternatives, as well as geometry design and track geometry inspections. Subgrade and superstructure design covering all the most typical design projects, from individual tracks to complex railway yards, including traffic and passing points, points, passenger and freight yards, and station areas. Our experienced team is capable of designing both track markings and static signage, even for complex and large-scale projects.
Thanks to our experience in project management and lead design, we operate efficiently and seamlessly even on large-scale design projects, ensuring smooth project management, open and inclusive dialogue with stakeholders, technical coordination across all technical and related contracts, as well as a high-quality end product.
We also offer earthworks planning for road and rail projects. Our services include the planning of cut and fill operations, earth balance calculations and the planning of disposal sites. The starting point for our design work is always the pursuit of mass balance and the optimisation of transport distances.
We take sustainable development and environmental responsibility into account in all our activities. Furthermore, we actively promote mass management based on the circular economy.
Our experience and core expertise cover, amongst other things, the following areas: railway design and the preparation of track and construction plans, both on sparsely built-up sections of line and in densely built-up urban and town-planning environments. We are also able to carry out general railway yard works, the removal and addition of tracks and points, as well as assessments of effective length and operational performance. Design projects for loading areas (e.g. timber, aggregates and vehicles) – ranging from a single loading track to an entire loading area – including, for example, the necessary track and points arrangements, loading bay design, stockpiling and drying design, are also part of our repertoire.
We also have the expertise and experience required for private tracks and railway yards.
We understand the operational context of private tracks, and through us you can access services for rail design tasks at, for example, production facilities, mines and ports, including loading and unloading tracks, loading bays, safety barrier design and level crossings.
We offer comprehensive risk management services aimed at minimising the negative impacts of uncertainties and ensuring that positive opportunities are realised.
Our work is based on a standards-compliant yet practical and participatory approach, delivering concrete and measurable results.
Whether it’s project risk management or safety risk management, our services are tailored to your specific needs. Our risk management services can form part of a larger planning framework or be a standalone project focusing on ongoing operations or operational changes.
In safety planning, we always comply with current legislation and our clients’ own guidelines. Our services include, for example, the preparation of safety plans for the duration of works and construction safety documentation, as well as the assessment of safety risks at the final stage of a project.
Our experts are also available to assist with various design review and supervision tasks. Our review services cover, amongst other things, expert services relating to track geometry, as well as third-party reviews of complete sets of plans (general, track and construction plans) and specific sections of plans. Thanks to our extensive and varied project management experience, we can also provide design supervision services. Please get in touch if you need assistance, for example, with the scheduling and coordination of a multi-disciplinary project or with the administrative process for plans. We tailor each service individually to suit your specific needs!
Data model and data management coordination ensures that high-quality data management and data modelling are implemented throughout the project.
Data management ensures that all project stakeholders have a clear understanding of how data flows within the project. Mutually agreed practices ensure that everyone has access to up-to-date information at every stage of the project, right through to the final documentation. Data management also places a strong emphasis on secure data handling in today’s environment.
Data modelling coordination involves defining clear data modelling objectives for the project and the requirements for achieving them. Clear objectives and requirements ensure that the various project stakeholders understand from the outset what is expected of them. At the same time, the coordinator ensures throughout the project that information modelling is carried out as agreed.
We offer geotechnical design, specialising in road, railway and bridge geotechnics, including, for example, the planning of ground investigations, constructability studies and foundation method reports.
Welado Design offers environmental design services from the preliminary and master-planning stages right through to the construction design stage. We design railway, street and road projects, as well as other public spaces such as parks and playgrounds. When gathering initial data, we identify any potential risks to the environment and take these into account at every subsequent stage of the design process.
Landscape design is the ‘icing on the cake’ in any design project. Right from the early stages of design, we define the guidelines for how the environment will look in the final phase: surface materials, plantings and the choice of street furniture. All of this must blend into the existing landscape and environment, whilst serving the users of the project in an accessible and safe manner.
Sustainable development is taken into account at every stage of the design process.
We carry out stormwater assessments and design work in connection with town planning, transport infrastructure, land-use planning and energy projects
Our experts
Meet our design experts.
More Sustainability & Environment experiences
Let’s talk about your project
Whether you have a specific project in mind, need specialist expertise or simply want to discuss your options, get in touch. Tell us what you’re working on, and we’ll connect you with the right people at Welado.