Project planning for Laakso Hospital has begun

UKI Arkkitehdit is part of the work consortium founded for planning the construction of the new Laakso Hospital in Helsinki. The consortium team called LATU won the public competition for hospital design earlier this year. The project planning of the hospital has already begun, and the project has great significance on the Finnish scale. The construction is tentatively scheduled for 2021-2026.

Laakso Hospital is a joint project of the City of Helsinki and HUS (Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa). The hospital attends to patients with psychiatric and somatic symptoms. The total cost of the project is approximately 700 MEUR.

UKI’s leading architect Raija-Liisa Miesmaa believes that our participation in the design of the hospital will reinforce the office’s position in the capital region market.

“Of course, this shows our expertise is trusted in hospital planning”, she says.

The project includes new construction and renovation and alteration of the old hospital buildings originally built in the 1920’s. Some of the younger buildings are being demolished.

“One of the hospital’s features is that it takes care of patients with both psychiatric and somatic symptoms. The hospital spaces have to be designed flexible so that they can be taken into use for either of the patient groups”, she states.

Miesmaa also points out that the hospital area is exclusive in terms of landscape and cityscape values. There are also buildings of great architectural value in the area.

“This altogether sets great demands for the architectural design”, she says.

In addition of UKI Arkkitehdit, LATU-planning group includes Arkkitehtitoimisto Lukkaroinen, AW2-Arkkitehdit and Arkkitehtitoimisto Tähti-Set. All four offices are experienced in hospital design.