YIT secures €94 million Helsinki sports center contract

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 2, YIT signed the implementation phase agreement for the Jätkäsaari swimming and sports center with the City of Helsinki. The contract, worth approximately €94 million, will be booked into YIT's order backlog for the third quarter of 2026. The project will be delivered using a collaborative project management contract model. The nine-month development phase has concluded, and construction entered earthworks, substructure, and foundation works at the beginning of September.

The sports center has a total gross floor area of approximately 21,000 square meters. The main and architectural design is by PES-Arkkitehdit Oy. During the development phase, the planned annual visitor count for the swimming facilities was adjusted from 400,000 to 550,000. Once the entire sports center is fully operational, it is expected to attract approximately 850,000 visits per year and accommodate more than 20 different sports activities. The roof will also feature an outdoor activity area with a running track and sports facilities.

The swimming facilities include a 50-meter, 8-lane standard pool, a teaching pool with adjustable water depth, a diving pool, children's and shallow pools, water slide features, therapy and multi-purpose pools, a cold water pool, and a whirlpool. The indoor sports spaces will include team sports halls, group exercise studios, dance and yoga rooms, a gym, functional training areas, skill and athletic training halls, a bouldering area, as well as boxing and martial arts training facilities.

According to the construction plan previously published by the City of Helsinki, earthworks, foundations, and substructure works will commence in September 2026. The main structural and facade works are scheduled for 2027, with the focus shifting to interior works from 2028 to 2029. The project site is located at Länsisatamankuja 1, where the former Bunkkeri warehouse building has already been demolished.

The building's energy system will recover waste heat from the exhaust air of the pool area for heating, and part of the electricity will be generated by the building's own solar power system. The material plan includes the use of low-carbon concrete and recycled materials. The project is expected to be commissioned between the end of 2029 and early 2030.