Project planning for the new school building of the teacher training school begins

The facility plan for the primary school of the teacher training school was updated in spring 2024 to meet the needs of the city's school network. The facility plan created in 2018 was designed for up to 1200 pupils, but according to the City of Oulu, there is a need for primary education for 600 pupils in Linnanmaa. The updated facility plan defined the required areas and their square footage for the new building, which will replace the old school buildings.

The creation of the facility plan involved the head principal of the teacher training school, the principals of the primary and secondary schools, two staff representatives, representatives from the university, representatives from SYK, and SYK's hired construction consultant Promen Oy and architectural firm Helasmaa & Heiskanen. Additionally, surveys were conducted for pupils and guardians. The facility plan was compared with the City of Oulu's school project facility plans in cooperation with city representatives.

In the now-initiated project planning phase, a final solution for the facility requirements will be sought, the location of the new building on the Linnanmaa campus will be determined, and a more detailed cost and rental estimate for the new building will be prepared. After the project planning phase, a decision will be made on moving to the construction phase. The project planning does not yet commit to construction or the signing of a lease agreement.

Construction of temporary facilities for University of Oulu teacher training school has begun

The primary school pupils of Universiy of Oulu teacher training school in Linnanmaa will gradually move into the modular temporary facilities built on the secondary school site by the end of the autumn break in October. The temporary facilities for the primary school will be set up using modular units in the northeast corner of the current teacher training school area, which houses the upper secondary and secondary schools. These units will also include some secondary school facilities, such as laboratory classrooms.

Contrary to the original plans, primary school pupils will start the autumn term in the existing primary school premises. All teaching will commence in the modular temporary facilities at the end of October, after the autumn break in week 44.

"In the temporary facilities, teaching will take place in classrooms connected by doors. For example, parallel classes can continue to work together as usual. Pupils will be able to move to specialised classrooms indoors, but meals will be served in the secondary school building," explains Sari Ahola, head principal of University of Oulu teacher training school.

Some of the secondary school activities will also move to the modular temporary facilities, but the majority of the secondary school premises will remain in use for teaching. Minor modifications will also be made to the former premises of the upper secondary school, which is moving to the Environmental Sciences Building on the main Linnanmaa campus during the summer. This will provide suitable spaces for, among other things, student welfare services.

Earthworks have begun in the area where the temporary facilities will be located. University Properties of Finland Ltd (SYK) has selected Adapteo as the supplier of the temporary facilities.

The additional rent for the modular temporary facilities compared to the initial situation is significantly lower than anticipated, estimated at 1.4 million euros per year. The original estimate was approximately 2.4 million euros per year.