Reykjavík approves demolition of Laugasól kindergarten

Reykjavík’s Environment and Planning Department has accepted a 25 million Icelandic króna bid from H2Orka ehf. to demolish Laugasól kindergarten at Leirulækur, mbl.is reports. The bid was 35% of the estimated cost of 71.2 million krónur.

Two other bids were also well below the estimate. Fagurverk ehf. offered nearly 29 million krónur, while Berserkir ehf. bid just over 34 million.

Reykjavík City Council decided in December 2024 to halt renovation work at the kindergarten and terminate its contract with the contractor. The department was also authorised to demolish the existing building and design a new kindergarten on the site.

During work on the building, which was constructed in 1965, it emerged that the ground beneath it could not support the structure. This undermined the basis for continuing with renovations.

Work on repairs and improvements began in May 2024. The project involved alterations and renovations to the upper floor, as well as creating more classrooms by converting a sunken basement into a ground floor. The work was halted later that year.

Laugasól was formed by merging the seven-classroom Laugaborg and Lækjaborg kindergartens at Leirulækur. As many as 145 children attended at the same time. Activities were moved elsewhere because of moisture damage in the building.

Reykjavík has faced extensive problems with mould and moisture damage in kindergarten buildings. Several kindergartens have been closed for an entire term of office or longer because maintenance work has been delayed or progressed poorly.

Last autumn, it was reported that 580 kindergarten places in the city could not be used because of maintenance work.