Pakila middle school
A history book in the form of a building.
what
Documentation of a historic building, architectural study
where
Pakila, Helsinki
when
2021
size
client
City of Helsinki
manufacturer
collaborators
Architects Rudanko + Kankkunen Oy, Helsinki City Museum
photographs
NEMO architects
The demolition of Pakila middle school in 2022 marked the end of an era for the school, which had served the community for over 70 years. However, the development of the entire Pakila Park area, including the school, kindergarten, and sports buildings, made it necessary to demolish the old school building. Before the demolition, a comprehensive study was conducted to document the school's situation in the fall of 2021 and preserve the building's information as part of Finland's building heritage for future generations.
The study included archival and literature research, fieldwork, and combining and analyzing data from different sources. This study provided valuable insight into the development of Finnish school history and the evolution the school over the years.
The original public school, designed by Jalmari Peltonen, was completed in 1939 and underwent expansions in 1955 and 1968. The new annexe was designed by the building department of the Helsinki City Building Agency. The middle school was expanded once more in 1991, and when space ran out, two barrack schools were added to the yard in 1995. These were later demolished and replaced by a new pavilion school.
Despite the changes and expansions, Pakila middle school remained an essential part of the community, serving many young people with special needs over the years. While the demolition marked the end of an era, preserving its information ensured that its legacy would be remembered for generations to come.