10 saunas and nine other facts about Riihimäki swimming hall

The Riihimäki swimming hall hides surprising numbers and stories. Did you know that the hall attracts over 800 swimmers on its busiest days? Or that after the renovation, the swimming hall consumes over a third less energy? We have compiled ten interesting facts about the hall in light of the numbers.

560

The Riihimäki swimming hall has an average of 560 swimmers per day, but on the busiest days there can be over 800 people swimming. The number of visitors has increased slightly due to the renovation. Friday afternoon is usually the quietest time. In the mornings, there are a lot of seniors, but many have season wristbands, so there is no queue at the cash register.

The swimming pool is open every day of the week, from 6 am to 21 pm at the latest. Swimming and gym hours end half an hour before the pool closes. Two swimming lifeguards are on duty at all times.

3

The swimming pool also has art on display. The café features a glass artwork by sculptor Risto Salonen, Finnish Theme, from 1979. On the concrete wall of the pool section is a blue-toned painting depicting diving, designed by American artist Howard Smith in 1979, which was restored during the renovation. In addition, on the wall facing the changing room corridor in the swimming pool area, there is Seppo Tamminen's artwork Suklaus from 2004.

10

The swimming hall has ten saunas. There are three saunas on both the men's and women's sides: a hot sauna, a warm sauna and a steam sauna. No one needs to worry about filling the sauna water tank in them, as the appropriate amount of sauna water is "thrown" into the heater by pressing a button.

Teachers have praised the new glass doors in the saunas, through which they can see their own students without opening the door. In two private saunas, a separate sauna for people with disabilities, and the sauna in the outdoor swimming pool, steam baths are offered in the traditional way.

3

The swimming pool has three virtual aqua gym stations, where you can work out independently according to a clear program you choose from the touch screen. Two stations are located at the shallow end of the large pool and one is in the aqua gym pool. You can work out independently in the aqua gym pool when there are no supervised groups. You can also borrow water treadmills and children's swimming equipment from the pool department.

458

There are 458 lockers. They have electric locks that close with a wristband. Some of the lockers are full height and some are half-height, overlapping each other, to provide more locker space. The lowest lockers have a grid bottom on which you can put your shoes. This prevents dirt from accumulating in the lockers.

The changing rooms have two handy swimsuit spinners that can spin a wet swimsuit fairly dry in ten seconds.

5

The hall has five rollators for loan. Accessibility has been well taken into account in the renovation: on the pool floor there is a separate space for disabled swimmers and their assistants, with its own sauna, washing room and changing room. The sauna in the separate changing room has a fan that directs the steam downwards. The swimming pools have two mobile lifts.

The private sauna has been very popular. It has also been reserved for small groups with special neuropsychiatric needs and for whom functioning in large spaces can be difficult.

1100

The tanks hold 1100 cubic meters, or 1.100.000 liters of water. Energy efficiency has improved significantly: after the renovation, the hall consumes 36,5 percent less energy than before. Savings are generated, among other things, by recovering heat from ventilation, and even the heat from washing water is utilized before it is discharged into the sewer.

The water is constantly circulating for cleaning. It is also constantly evaporating and being replaced by new water. The water temperature in the large pool is 27 degrees.

42

The 42-meter-long slide creates a spa-like atmosphere. You can slide it down in about ten seconds. The speed is about 4,2 m/s. You can follow your own descent speed on the screen. The slide is suitable for people over 7 years old.

72,50

Two private saunas and two swimming pools are frequently booked for children's birthday parties, team parties and association meetings. The hourly rental of the larger sauna is 72,50 euros. The rental also includes use of the swimming pool, kitchen and lounge area. The sauna room can accommodate 30 people. The pool's lifting base allows the pool to be made very shallow if necessary. The size of the swimming pool is 9,6 x 3,6 meters. In the autumn, baby swimming groups will be accommodated in the room.

The hourly rental price for a smaller sauna is 20,20 euros. The sauna is best suited for less than ten people. Some families may rent it for themselves for a swimming trip. The private saunas can be booked together or separately.

22

On a typical day, the café sells 22 cups of coffee. In addition, juice, buns, donuts and rolls are sold. Three employees work in shifts in customer service. The swimming hall also has a sports facility manager who takes care of the technology. Cleaning and swimming supervision are outsourced.

The interviewee was Päivi Kallio, customer service manager at Riihimäki Sports Center.

Text: Reija Ypyä
Photos: Jenniina Nummela

Corrected on August 25, 2025: The swimming pool has three works of art instead of two, including Seppo Tamminen's work Suklaus. The swimsuit spinners are located in the changing rooms, not in the shower rooms. The sauna bench in the separate changing room does not have to be raised, but has a fan that directs the steam downwards.