Transformation into a homey school

The schedule of the project was nothing short of staggering. The lease agreement for the temporary premises was signed at the end of March 2023, the construction work was completed in July and schoolchildren were able to start the autumn term in the temporary premises in August.

The budget for the modification work was less than one million euros, and the temporary school was completed on schedule. Even though major changes were made to the existing office building, the total cost of the project was still lower compared to a situation where a completely new temporary facility would have been built, for example from building elements.

“Planning plays a key role. This was Kielo’s first project in Lappeenranta for educational use with so many changes. We had the pleasure of cooperating with a good, long-term and professional planning agency, and after competitive tendering, familiar local partners were selected as contractors. The end user of the premises and the City of Lappeenranta were involved in the design right from the start, and cooperation between all parties was seamless. We found flexibility on both sides,” says Property Services Manager Tiina Lensu.

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School facilities require a lot of changes

Originally, the 6500 square meter property had been used as an office. The transformation into a space suitable for school use was not quite simple: the large spaces of the property were divided into smaller ones, more than 20 classrooms were built in the premises, as well as special classes in biology, physics and home economics. In addition, the temporary school had its own distribution kitchen, facilities for administration and student health care, and new toilets.

Two new ventilation units were also installed on the property, ensuring that there is enough fresh and healthy indoor air for a total of 450 students and staff. The lighting was also renewed and the lights were converted to LED. To the delight of the students, ping pong tables were brought indoors and basketball stands to the courtyard. Stationary bike racks were also installed outside.

The premises are considered safe

In July 2023, the premises were handed over to the city, and 650 moving boxes were carried to the school, among other things. The fixtures were installed according to plan, but the teachers themselves took care of moving the tables and other items.

“We want to act responsibly. It’s great that the temporary facilities were arranged next to the current school, so the children’s trips to school remained the same. Families and pupils have given good feedback, as the indoor air is good and the premises are considered safe. The jury gave the temporary facilities an overall rating of up to 9,” says Lensu.

Additional information:

Tiina Lensu, Property Service Manager
+358 40 754 6488
[email protected]