Historic Finnish school completes three-year renovation, adding modern technology and unique rooms for students and staff

The comprehensive renovation of the school building in Sippola, Kouvola, has been completed. The building is a massive wooden mansion that has been used as a school for 112 years. The main building of the school was built in 1836 and was last renovated in the 1980s.

In addition to being a school, the building, named Sippolan Hovi, has been used for agricultural and forestry purposes, and it has also served as a wartime hospital. The facade of the building has been restored, meaning it has been renovated in a way that preserves its original appearance.

Children and teenagers attend school and live in the same place at the school. Young people who have had difficulties adapting in other foster care services are often placed in the school. Tuija Lindberg, the director of Sippola school, is satisfied with the results of the renovation.

According to her, everyday life will change in every way. The building now has modern technology, which means that the air conditioning works, the lighting works, and moving indoors is easier. As a result of the renovation, completely new types of rooms have been added to the mansion.

The mansion includes a sensory room and a “grandma room.” The sensory room has various photographs, lights, and sounds. Visitors can relax and enjoy the ambiance while also using the room for therapy sessions or guided discussions. The “grandma room” is a safe and cozy gathering place where the school’s staff can hold their own meetings, meet students, or receive visitors from outside the school.

The residents of the school were involved in the design of these rooms. The final result of the renovation is a delight to many, including Kivi-Mikael Keller, the design manager of architectural firm Erat-Architects. According to Keller, the interior of the building may surprise visitors with its fresh and bright colors and furniture that greatly differs from the typical gray Finnish school day. Keller also thanked the contractors and designers for their collaboration.

Despite the satisfaction with the renovation, the process was not without problems. The renovation revealed extensive damage to the building’s supporting structures from a previous renovation in the 1980s. Before the team could start designing the spaces, the basic structures of the building had to be repaired first, delaying the original schedules.

The entire renovation process of the mansion took about three years and cost 9.5 million euros. Students will return to the renovated school building in August.