Students and staff have an influence on the new Matinkylän lukio
The new Matinkylän lukio will open its doors to its students on Wednesday 7 February 2024. The new upper secondary school is a modern building with excellent transport connections. The views of the personnel and the perspective of sustainable development have been taken into account in the building. Ninth-graders have already had the opportunity to visit the brand new upper secondary school at an open door event. - We had about 500 ninth-graders exploring the premises here, says Principal Harri Henttonen.
The Matinkylän lukio project took 5 years to complete. Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects were responsible for the architectural designs. In October 2020, their architectural plan Lyhty [Lantern] won the design competition. The upper secondary school building is true to its name: bright and light both outside and in. The building also feels spacious. Its total area is 11,000 gross square metres.
This spring, there will be 230 places available for new students, and in the future, Matinkylän lukio will have approximately 840 students. In addition to the basic curriculum, Matinkylän lukio offers a specialised programme in visual arts, where 25 new students will be accepted this spring. The new general upper secondary school needed more teachers: - We had six teaching positions open, says Principal Henttonen.
A variety of spaces spread across five floors
Matinkylän lukio has five floors. The classrooms are divided onto different floors based on the field of education; for example, the fifth floor has classrooms for humanities and sciences, the fourth floor has classrooms for mathematics and natural sciences, and the third floor has classrooms for languages. Teachers were strongly involved in the planning phase of the building; for example, when the visual arts facilities were being designed, teachers in the field were consulted. In addition to a classroom space, visual arts have their own studio. - There are plenty of electrical outlets in the classrooms for laptops and similar. They are not on the way and you will not stumble on cords, tutor Tommi Siren praises.
The general upper secondary school also has adaptable classrooms, which can either be used as one large space or several smaller ones; they can be divided into smaller spaces by sliding doors, which provide good acoustic insulation. - For example, we can hold different kinds of information events in these large classrooms, says guidance counsellor Marjut Lindqvist.
The classrooms have been named thematically after the Baltic Sea, starting from the bottom sediment of the ground floor upwards. - The Baltic Sea is nearby and we are part of the UNESCO upper secondary schools’ Baltic Sea network, reminds the principal. The teachers were responsible for naming the classes.
The names have a slightly playful undertone. The lobby closest to the principal’s room is called Komentosilta (Command Bridge). The principal’s room is called Kapteeni (Captain) and the vice principal’s Purseri (Purser), and the special needs teacher, community counsellor and guidance counsellors can be found in the Luotsi (Pilot) rooms 1–5. - Confidential negotiations are held in the Myötätuuli (Tailwind) conference room and easy ones in Vastatuuli (Headwind), Lindqvist grins.
Community spirit in the lobby facilities
There are plenty of seats for students in the lobby areas. Tommi Sirén, who guided the ninth graders during the open doors event, says that the future year-ones will have their say in matters such as the selection of furniture for the lobby. - The lobby facilities will be stimulating, they bring students together and promote a sense of community, says Lindqvist. - The lobby areas will have a pool table, foosball table and board games, Principal Henttonen adds.
There are also spaces for quiet work in the general upper secondary school. They are suited for group work or, if the space is free, students’ personal academic pursuits. - I like the fact that the upper secondary school is spacious and bright and there are plenty of seating areas, says student Naz Gültekin. Graduating student Sarafina Mushi agrees. - You can calm down for a while in the quiet workspace when you have a free period, Sarafina thinks. Sarafina and Naz give praise for the number of toilets in the new building.
The environment is not only reflected in the classroom names and visible when looking out of the window. Sustainable development has been taken into account in the building: there are solar panels on the roof, and geothermal heat is used for heating and cooling the building. - The general upper secondary school is also within easy reach by public transport. - You only need to cross the road in front of the upper secondary school to get to the metro station, and buses run almost all the way to the front door from elsewhere in Espoo and, for example, Kirkkonummi, the principal points out.
Lounge facilities tailored to user preferences
The personnel have been listened to throughout the general upper secondary school project. - I can name at least 10 areas in the upper secondary school that are based on my ideas, says guidance counsellor. She is proud to present the teachers’ lounge; the staff were able to influence the placement of the facility and the available equipment. Teachers have pleasant facilities for working and taking a break (there is both some quiet space and private facilities available, depending on how much peace you need).
- The upper secondary school secretaries have had the chance of designing their own space. The fact that general upper secondary school secretaries work in customer service has genuinely been taken into account in the facility, says guidance counsellor Lindqvist. - We study counsellors were given two spaces for small group work in Paapuuri (Portside) and Tyyrpuuri (Starboard), according to our needs.
Plenty of sports facilities
The upper secondary school and its surroundings have facilities for physical activity. Inside, there is a great gym with seating for 700 viewers in the audience. The facility will be put to active use already during the senior ball on Friday 9 February. The upper secondary school has its own gym, compact and fitted with the latest equipment. The schoolyard is also quite magnificent. The outdoor area includes an artificial turf field, a basketball court and an outdoor gym. Art created by Matinkylän lukio students is displayed alongside the artificial turf; all students could participate in the optional course, not only those specialising in art. Tynnyripuisto Park will be built behind the upper secondary school’s sports facilities, and it will have an area for outdoor activities and seating. Matinkylä swimming pool is located next to the upper secondary school.
On the opening day of Matinkylän lukio, the school’s students can familiarise themselves with the new facilities by completing tasks at various checkpoints.
