A calm atmosphere in the residents’ event for the Olarin koulu school plan – The plan options still divided opinions
The plan proposal for the Olarin koulu comprehensive school was presented to the pupils’ parents and other residents of the area on 21 April 2026. The atmosphere at the event was calm and conversational. The participants were a small and active group.
Olarin koulu comprehensive school will be extended to meet the needs of an increasing number of pupils. The aim is to have places for approximately 1,000 thousand pupils in the school in the future. At the same time, traffic and parking arrangements in the area will be improved and the boundaries and space reservations of the blocks and recreational areas will be reviewed.
The plan proposal now available for public review allows for two options: a completely new school or an extension in which part of the old school is renovated and maintained in use. Both options received support in the residents’ event and in the previous residents’ survey alike.
The majority of the school staff, parents and slightly more than one half of the pupils would like to have a completely new school. The extension is supported especially by the active residents of the area, who emphasise the architectural and ecological values of the building. More detailed notes on the residents’ discussion have been saved for the planners to use.
The people explaining what the amendment involves and listening to residents’ thoughts were Tuuli Hietamäki, who prepared the plan, Traffic Planner Salla Mäkelä and Landscape Architect Mari Soini from the City Planning Department, Project Planner Riikka Ikonen from the Premises Department and Senior Planning Officer Auli Toivonen and Anssi Iivonen, the principal of the school, from the Growth and Learning Sector. Cosmo Jenytin (Green party), a member of the City Planning Committee represented decision-makers in the event.
Below is the interview with planner Tuuli Hietamäki after the event.
What in the plan for Olarin koulu school were the residents most interested in?
They were interested especially in the condition of the current school building, the realities of renovation and the schedule of moving to temporary facilities during construction. During the evening, we heard comments in favour of both maintaining and demolishing the current building. We also talked a lot about the transport solutions and parking arrangement in the plan.
What was the atmosphere like at the event?
The atmosphere was calm and friendly and the discussion was constructive. Fewer residents came than we had expected. It may be a sign that residents are largely not very worried about the plan, which is a good thing.
What would be important to understand about the plan amendment?
The local detailed plan will enable both the expansion and the new construction options. The more specific implementation method will be determined in later decision-making. The building has cultural history value, but significant renovation and modifications are required to make it an entity that works together with the new extension. Because the drafts and reports are still more general at the planning stage, the final decision will not be made as yet.
In addition to extending the school, the traffic arrangements in the area and their safety will be improved. Enough space will also be left for the development of the sports park in the future.
How does the planning area relate to the more general development of the area?
With the building of the Suurpelto area, the current units in Opinmäki and Olarinniitty will not have room for all pupils from the area. The schools currently work at the limits of their capacity and their operation has already had to be restricted. Extending the Opinmäki unit has proved to be very difficult because of the ground and the implementation of the current building. For this reason, the extension will be located in connection with the Olarinniitty unit, which has reached the age where renovation is required. The aim is that the youngest pupils will continue to go to school at the Opinmäki unit.
Did the city receive any other messages from the residents?
When demolition of the buildings was discussed in general, residents hoped for active use of the demolition materials in new construction. It was noted that the city is currently developing this, but there is still room for improvement.
Familiarise yourself with the plan and the slides from the residents’ event and give feedback
The plan proposal was available for public review between 30.3.–28.4.2026, during which time it was possible to submit an objection to the plan. Familiarise yourself with the plan materials and the slides from the resident’s event on the plan's Finnish website.
Once the given objections have been considered, the plan will be submitted to the decision-makers for approval during summer 2026. After that, more detailed planning of the buildings, the yard and the streets will continue. The construction work is estimated to start in 2028 at the earliest, but a delay is very possible.
Information on the progress of the master plan process is provided on the plan's website and in the City of Espoo planning announcements in Finnish.
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