The old vocational school building has fallen into disrepair. Pori officials consider renovation to be a better option than a completely new building. The aim is to make the premises available for cultural use.
The old Valimo building in the Pori school district is to be renovated. Officials propose to renovate the building, which has fallen into disrepair, and then put it to cultural use.
The aim is to make the premises available to the Palmgren Conservatory, Pori High School, Cygnaeus School, Kruunupää Children’s Cultural Centre and the Pori Sinfonietta. The premises could also be used for band activities, and the Annis cultural centre could expand its activities there.
Expensive repair
The renovation would cost almost €4.9 million, while the second option, a new building, would cost just over €5 million, or a little more.
One of the reasons for preferring the renovation option is that Valimo’s building is part of the nationally significant cultural environment in the Riihiketo school blocks. Officials are afraid that they would not get a demolition permit for the building.
If the plan goes ahead, the renovation works are supposed to be ready in three years, i.e. in the fall of 2026. The project would be financed by the city-owned real estate company Domus Arctopolis, and therefore would not directly increase the city of Pori’s own investment program. The city would rent the building for around 400,000 euros per year.
The foundry building was completed in 1952 for the use of a vocational school for boys. At one time, the vocational school’s foundry and car repair line operated in the building.
Later, the building was used by the Palmgren Conservatory, which provides music education. In 2020, Valimo’s facilities were removed from teaching use due to their poor condition.
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