Jätkäsaari Swimming and Sports Centre

Location: Helsinki, Finland

Total gross area: 21,577 m2

Functions: Swimming pool, Sports and wellness facilities

Scope: Architecture, Interior

Status: Preliminary design 2025

Client: City of Helsinki

The new swimming and sports centre in Jätkäsaari, Helsinki, will be the biggest addition to Helsinki’s sports facilities in decades, providing much-needed services for local residents, schools and sports clubs.

The facilities planned for the sports centre include:

Water exercise: A 50-metre swimming pool, a wading and children’s pool, a diving tower and cold pools, and a teaching pool with adjustable depth. A wellbeing pool area will include massage stations, a jacuzzi and a water play area.

Indoor sports: Ball game halls, group exercise facilities, a gym and other sports facilities.

Outdoor sports: The preliminary plan includes a running track and outdoor gym equipment on the roof of the swimming hall.

Sustainability is a key focus of the design. The centre will feature energy-efficient solutions such as heat recovery from exhaust air, a solar power system and a façade incorporating recycled materials in accordance with the principles of circular economy.

The partially wood-framed upper floor will feature an undulating façade made of recycled aluminium sheets, resembling the swell of waves in a nod to the seaside location.

The new complex will replace the concrete Bunker, a former port warehouse that has stood on the site for 50 years.

The preliminary plan was approved by the Helsinki City Council in April 2025.The next step is application for a building permit, with construction expected to begin in late 2026. The facilities are planned to open to the public in late 2029.

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