The summer holiday season is at its peak, but there is plenty of activity on Kraatarinkatu in Varissuo. Kaarea’s Property Services and the project partners are renovating former school premises for preschool use, so that children can start preschool in August in newly renovated, safe and functional facilities.

The premises located in connection with the Varissuo youth centre at Kraatarinkatu 4 are being converted from school use to meet the needs of preschool education. The need for changes is related to the centralisation of preschool activities in Varissuo in the former premises of the International School. Youth services will continue to operate in the building as before, and the repair work will mainly focus on the areas previously used by the International School..

The work started at the end of April, and the aim is for the renovated premises to be ready on 7 August 2026. The schedule is tight, as the facilities must be completed before the start of the new operating period. Due to the urgent timetable, construction work in different fields is being carried out with the help of the city’s framework agreement partners. This enabled the alteration work to start as flexibly and quickly as possible.

The premises are being renewed to meet the needs of preschoolers

During the renovation, the interior spaces are being extensively modified to serve preschool activities as well as possible. Surface materials will be widely renewed, interior surfaces will be maintenance-painted, and the lighting will be replaced. Induction loops will be installed in group rooms to support the participation of children and adults who use hearing aids or cochlear implants.

The renewed premises will include several kitchenettes, a serving kitchen in a former classroom, and cloakroom furniture for a total of 84 children. The multipurpose hall will get a new floor, a climbing wall and a fold-away stage mounted on the wall. The building’s electrical systems and windows will also be renewed, and paving changes will be made in the yard. In addition, a new playground for preschoolers will be built at nearby Suurpäänkenttä.

Summer is a busy time for Property Services

The site employs around 15–20 professionals daily. In the project, Kaarea is responsible for construction and plumbing work together with subcontractors. Site supervision is handled by site manager Kimmo Väänänen and site management trainee Oliver Nikkilä.

Summer is also a busy time for Kaarea’s Property Services more generally, as many repair and alteration projects in schools and daycare centres are carried out when there are as few users as possible on the premises. While others are on holiday, work at the construction site progresses according to schedule, stage by stage. Once the premises are completed, the contribution of many professionals will be visible. When preschoolers step into the new facilities in August, a great deal of planning, coordination and practical work will have taken place behind the scenes over the summer.