Turku leads trend of multifunctional community hubs in Finland’s municipalities

Municipalities in Finland are increasingly constructing schools and daycare centers alongside multifunctional community hubs, as evidenced by the construction projects of the ten largest cities detailed by Yle. These multifunctional facilities offer services to all residents, including dental clinics, libraries, and youth centers.

Mikko Simpanen, a development manager at the Association of Finnish Municipalities, highlights the ongoing transformation in traditional school and daycare building practices. He notes that factors driving the shift towards multifunctional facilities include declining birth rates, rising technical construction standards, and tight municipal budgets. Simpanen predicts that in five years, multifunctional structures will become the predominant solution in new school constructions.

Responses from various cities indicate that the design of these buildings is also influenced by which community services require new spaces. The aim is for multifunctional buildings to serve as community hubs within residential areas.

Turku is at the forefront of this trend, having opened two multifunctional facilities this year, including Suikkila House, which accommodates students from the first to third grades, a daycare, a maternity clinic, and a home care workspace. Another facility, the Runosmäki multifunctional center Riimi, is a unique collaboration between the city and the Turku-Kaarina Parish Union, with the city owning 75 percent and the parish union the rest. In addition to daycare services, Riimi hosts a maternity clinic, family center, library, and youth space.

Turku is planning to develop several additional multifunctional buildings, which are designed to accommodate various community needs, ensuring residents can access all services easily, while maintaining distinct entrances and spaces for different users.