{"id":73926,"date":"2025-12-02T15:34:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T13:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/?post_type=showroom_cpt&p=73926"},"modified":"2025-12-02T15:37:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T13:37:16","slug":"restoration-of-the-protected-buildings-at-old-vaasa-hospital","status":"publish","type":"showroom_cpt","link":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/projects\/restoration-of-the-protected-buildings-at-old-vaasa-hospital\/","title":{"rendered":"Restoration of the protected buildings at Old Vaasa Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n \"Aerial \n\t
\n\t\t\t \n \n \t Project and construction \n management <\/i>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/a>\n\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Restoration of the protected buildings at Old Vaasa Hospital begins<\/h1>\n

Published 2.12.2025<\/em><\/p>\n

The Old Vaasa Hospital area includes several buildings designed by C. L. Engel, and careful project planning is laying the foundation for their renovation. Sweco\u2019s project management team brings extensive experience in renovating both protected historic buildings and hospitals.<\/p>\n

Project planning for the renovation of Old Vaasa Hospital<\/h3>\n

Old Vaasa Hospital is one of Finland\u2019s two forensic psychiatric hospitals. Senate Properties initiated project planning for the renovation of the area\u2019s oldest buildings together with Sweco\u2019s project management experts. The renovation schedule follows a roadmap prepared for the site.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first buildings to be renovated are buildings F and T,\u201d says Kukka Potka<\/strong>, Construction Manager at Senate Properties. Some functions of building F (the main building) and building T (the service building) will be relocated to a new building under construction on the site. This will allow the spaces in the old buildings to be reorganized into functional units. \u201cThe main building currently has 25 patient places; after the renovation, there will be 38.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hospital serves as a long-term home for about 155 people, and one of the key goals of the renovation is to update the historically valuable buildings designed by Carl Ludvig Engel so the hospital can continue to provide rehabilitation-promoting facilities for patients in the future.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Project in Brief<\/h2>\n

Renovation of the F and T buildings at the Old Vaasa Hospital<\/p>\n

Client:<\/strong> Senate Properties
\nServices Included in the Assignment:<\/strong> Project planning, including cost estimation and procurement, as well as electrical design
\nImplementation Period:<\/strong> 2024\u20132025
\nSustainability in the project:<\/strong> Social responsibility, ensuring a rehabilitative recovery environment
\nOther project themes:<\/strong> Harmonizing heritage values, personal safety, and hospital functionalities with the addition of patient beds and new building systems<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Aerial\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Conservation values guided the planning<\/h2>\n

Both buildings, completed in 1844, are protected, and the entire hospital area is designated as a nationally significant built cultural environment (RKY). \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s important that Sweco has expertise in both hospital functionality and the renovation of protected buildings,\u201d Potka says.<\/p>\n

Sweco previously carried out a needs assessment for the T and F buildings and an engagement project related to new construction on the hospital site. According to Project Manager Sini Jaakkola, the most important task was to support the client in decision-making. Many aspects had to be reconciled, from technical requirements to the wishes of the National Board of Antiquities and the users.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe project spirit was excellent because Senate Properties already has well-functioning procedures and a construction manager who knows the site and users and guides the project proactively and closely.\u201d<\/p>\n

The main building will be expanded<\/h2>\n

Administrative offices will be concentrated in building T, which will also house a laboratory, dental clinic, and physiotherapy facilities. One challenge in renovating building T is that parts completed at different times have different construction types and floor levels.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy contrast, converting the second floor of building F into a patient ward is more straightforward because it was originally designed as a hospital,\u201d Jaakkola says. The floor plan will retain patient rooms along the windowed sides and the old light-filled corridor alignment.<\/p>\n

To make the new second-floor ward functional in daily operations, an extension must be built at the end of the building. Potka considers one success of the planning phase to be finding an extension solution approved by the National Board of Antiquities. The extension will be located at the end of the historic lime-tree alley.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe extension\u2019s exterior will preserve symmetry and unity with the main building,\u201d Jaakkola explains. The extension will include a lift shaft and stairwells for escape routes and service traffic. \u201cMeals will be prepared in the new building\u2019s central kitchen going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Project planning reached technical building services details<\/h2>\n

Sweco\u2019s project management guided the architect, structural and building services designers, and Sweco was responsible for the site\u2019s electrical design. The design guidance emphasized staff and patient safety and certification of the buildings under Rakennustieto\u2019s environmental classification.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe design team had experience with exactly this kind of building, and they got cooperation running so well that we progressed far with the building services choices,\u201d Jaakkola praises. Representatives of the users also took part in design meetings.<\/p>\n

Each patient will have a private room with toilet and shower, which significantly increases the amount of building services. \u201cFortunately, the ceiling heights are good, and equipment can be placed in service shafts left after the old stove heating,\u201d Jaakkola says.<\/p>\n

Sweco\u2019s project management also handled cost calculations, procurements, and preparation of the contract tendering. \u201cWe also helped the client choose the contract model. In a demanding renovation like this, some kind of collaborative model is certainly the best solution,\u201d Jaakkola notes.<\/p>\n

The project is currently awaiting an investment decision and the tendering of the contract. The aim is to start demolition work in summer 2026.<\/p>\n

Also read about the public engagement project for the new construction at the Old Vaasa Hospital!<\/p>\n

Picture: Old Vaasa Hospital<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\n
\n
\n

Contact Us!<\/h3> <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n \n
\n <\/div>\n\n
\n