New Pirtti School opens its doors to the pupils

The new Pirtti School in Kuopio will begin operations at the start of the school year on 12 August 2026. The new school will provide modern facilities for approximately 800 primary school and pre-primary education pupils. The school is located in the Pirtti district at Pirtintie 21.

The new school replaces the area’s previous school facilities, which no longer met the needs of the growing student population. The new school building brings all school activities under one roof and provides healthy, safe and modern learning environments.

Modern facilities support learning and a sense of community

Pirtti School has been designed as a learning environment that supports both modern pedagogical practices and a strong sense of community. The school features a variety of learning spaces that accommodate traditional classroom teaching, collaborative learning, small-group activities and flexible approaches to teaching.

The facilities include open learning commons, small-group and support spaces, as well as specialized classrooms designed for crafts, visual arts and music education. The sports hall and dining hall serve the entire school community and also provide venues for a variety of events and activities.

The planning process incorporated input from both staff and pupils, with particular attention given to the functionality, safety, and adaptability of the facilities.

“It will be exciting to see the new opportunities these facilities bring to everyday school life. I am especially looking forward to seeing how the new multipurpose spaces naturally bring pupils and staff together and strengthen collaboration and a sense of community throughout the school,” says Principal Sami Varis.

The school also serves the community in the evenings

Pirtti School has been designed to serve not only the school community but also external users. Facilities available for evening use include the school’s sports halls, classrooms for crafts and arts education, the dining hall and selected common areas connected to the learning environments.

Outside school hours, these facilities can be reserved through the City of Kuopio’s booking system by individuals, sports clubs, associations, and other organizations for activities such as hobbies, clubs, meetings, and events.

Developed through close collaboration

Pirtti School was built using a collaborative project model, in which the client, designers, contractors, as well as the school’s staff and pupils, were involved in developing the facilities throughout the different stages of the project. The main contractor was Jalon Rakentajat Oy.

During the course of the project, the school’s investment costs decreased from the original budget of €31 million to €27 million.

Construction of the outdoor areas will continue throughout autumn 2026, with all landscaping and yard works scheduled for completion by spring 2027 at the latest.