Saikantalo school in Lempäälä showcases modern school building trends

A new school and daycare building in Lempäälä, southern Finland, opens in August and is being held up as a model for contemporary school construction. The 7,400-square-metre Saikantalo, built at a cost of 25 million euros, will serve about 220 primary pupils and 80 to 120 children in early childhood education, with capacity for up to 500 students, Yle reports.

The building marks a departure from the open-plan learning environments that dominated recent school design. Instead, Saikantalo returns to self-contained classrooms arranged around shared “classroom nest” spaces, while retaining flexibility through movable walls that allow rooms to be combined.

Acoustics and lighting have been prioritised to support concentration. The school is shoe-free, and the interior is designed for quiet. The municipality required an acoustic design specification during the tendering process and hired a dedicated acoustic consultant.

Wood is a prominent feature, used extensively both inside and out. The external walls are solid timber, fulfilling Lempäälä’s goal of promoting wood construction. The building achieves an A energy-efficiency rating and carries a four-star environmental classification. Rooftop solar panels supply part of the electricity.

The central area combines an auditorium staircase, a flexible dining hall, a sports hall, a foyer, and a music classroom. These spaces can be used individually or combined, and the dining area can be booked by local clubs in the evenings. Separate entrances allow after-hours use without passing through the whole building. The school is designed to function as a village hall for the neighbourhood.

Safety features include comprehensive camera surveillance and an emergency lockdown button that can instantly close all external doors.