Jyväskylä to build new sculptural water tower designed to last a century

The energy company Alva will begin constructing a new water tower in Jyväskylä, central Finland, in May, replacing the city’s current Harju water tower and securing water distribution for decades to come, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The 50-metre-tall structure, designed to serve as a landmark, will be built on Taulumäki ridge between Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences’ Rajakatu campus and Lake Tuomiojärvi. Its water reservoir will hold roughly 7,000 cubic metres—more than double the capacity of the existing Harju tower.

According to Toni Hemminki, Alva’s director of networks and asset management, the project addresses the city’s growth and shifting water consumption patterns. “The Taulumäki water tower strengthens municipal preparedness and improves our ability to handle disruptions far into the future,” Hemminki stated.

Construction firm Kreate, specialising in infrastructure, won the €26 million contract for the project. CEO Timo Vikström called the tower “exceptional in both scale and architecture,” noting that large water towers are rarely built in Finland today.

The tower’s sculptural design, named Albedo, was selected through a competition organised by the City of Jyväskylä and Alva. Sweco Finland’s winning proposal features a lattice-patterned surface. With an expected lifespan of 100 years, the tower is scheduled for completion in 2028. Water distribution will remain uninterrupted during construction.