Pori ice arena roof overhaul awaits safety study

The timetable for renovating the roof of Pori’s ice arena remains open, Yle reports. The decision will depend on a condition assessment this autumn and sensors to be installed in November to monitor the condition of the arena’s glued laminated timber arches.

The roof structures of the arena, completed in 1971, are reaching the end of their service life. The renovation is estimated to cost more than 20 million euros.

An earlier plan to begin work after the 2028 league season will not go ahead, and the project will be postponed. The condition data will help determine how soon the renovation must begin, said Toni Wahlman, managing director of Kiinteistö Oy Porin Jäähalli, the company that operates the arena.

“During the autumn, the condition assessment of the arches will be completed. In November, during the international break, sensors will be installed in them to provide additional data on their condition,” Wahlman said.

The data is considered important because it will largely determine when the extensive renovation must start. The safety of the arena’s users and spectators must not be put at risk.

Pori’s city-owned ice arena company announced its plans to renew the roof structures about six months ago. The original structures’ age was not unexpected, but the estimated cost of more than 20 million euros surprised many.

City awaits more information

City officials responsible for financial planning hope the condition of the glued laminated timber arches will allow the renovation to be postponed.

“In principle, we do not know whether the beams will last until tomorrow or for another 10 years. Once we have the data, we can make good decisions,” said Mikael Ropo, chair of the Pori city board.

Pori’s investment programme already includes several expensive projects. Earlier this summer, the city council approved approximately 60 million euros in property investments, including a library renovation and a new sports and events venue on the site of the former bus station.

“The renovation of the ice arena is quite expensive on top of all the other investments. Of course, we are considering what would be the most durable solution from the perspectives of safety and finances,” Ropo said.

Decision likely next year

Decisions on the renovation will probably be made no earlier than next year.

There are essentially two options. The glued laminated timber arches could be replaced with new arches of the same type, at an estimated cost of about 21 million euros. Alternatively, they could be replaced with steel structures, which would cost about 25 million euros and change the arena’s shape into a cube.

Wahlman said that describing the project as merely a roof renovation does not convey the full scale of the investment. In practice, it would involve renewing the old part of the 55-year-old arena.

For example, the suites located at the bases of the timber arches would also be rebuilt. The project plan published in spring includes further options to improve the arena’s functionality during the larger renovation. Their combined value is approximately 2.7 million euros.

League games played by the arena’s main user, Porin Ässät, would continue normally during the renovation. The work would probably still have to be taken into account when scheduling the team’s league fixtures.