Concrete structures rise along Aura River in Turku as Fuuga music center progresses

This summer, concrete structures have emerged along the banks of the Aura River in Turku, requiring locals to adjust their perspectives. The site, formerly known for an often-empty park at the Independence Square, is now occupied by large wall structures that signal a permanent change. This development marks the construction site for Turku’s new music center, Fuuga, where the cornerstone was laid in January. By August, recognizable concert hall constructions had risen behind barriers.

According to Kimmo Suonpää, the city director of urban construction, the project is progressing on schedule. “The wall work for the large hall is well over halfway completed. We are currently working on the third floor’s casting. A couple more floors remain in the large hall, and by the turn of the year, it will reach its highest point.”

The project includes two performance spaces: a 1,300-seat concert hall intended for acoustic orchestra music and a 300-seat multifunctional hall. Additionally, an internal corridor will connect the music center to the city theater.

Suonpää mentioned that the river-facing wall of the multifunctional hall has already reached its peak height, providing views that will be featured from the rooftop restaurant terrace.

Notably, large construction projects in Turku have faced challenges such as budget overruns and timeline extensions. Previous projects, like the Logomo bridge and the double track between Kupittaa and the main railway station, saw significant cost increases, a trend also observed in the theater renovations.

Fuuga is being constructed using an alliance model, where responsibility for achieving project goals is shared between the developer and contractors. Suonpää emphasized that collaboration has been smooth, leading to discussions that have advanced plans while managing costs effectively. Exterior work on the music center is set to commence in the summer of next year, with plans for the building to be operational by spring 2026.