What does it take and cost to repair a swimming pool?

Rhymes from Riihimäki is a series of columns in which Riihimäki city personnel talk about current issues and their work.

Construction of sports facilities in the public sector is a very multi-level and interesting entity. It often feels like projects take a long time, even though no hammer blows have been struck yet. This is absolutely true. Preparing projects and making the necessary decisions takes time.

In Riihimäki, renovation and construction projects for sports facilities, which are large compared to the size of the city, are underway. The swimming pool and land swimming pool projects, and especially their costs, have aroused astonishment in recent days. The ambiguities are partly due to the terminology used, so let's open them up like this at first.

Along Salpauseläntie in Riihimäki, as part of the Sports Park, there is a complex consisting of a land-based swimming pool completed in the 1950s and a swimming pool built alongside the land-based pool in 1979. Over the years, the term swimming pool has been used to refer sometimes to a land swimming pool, sometimes to a swimming hall, and sometimes to both. Nowadays, for the sake of clarity, we really only talk about land swimming pools and swimming pools. Uimala, on the other hand, nowadays refers to the whole formed by both, but it is used quite rarely in order to avoid ambiguities.

Is there a difference between basic repair and basic improvement?

In repair construction, we can talk about basic repair or basic improvement. Roughly, these terms describe the extent to which the repair construction project is carried forward. In the overhaul, the object is returned to the same condition and functionality as it was when it was completed.

In basic improvement, on the other hand, the level of the project is raised, i.e. improved. The improvement aims to better meet today's requirements, for example from the perspective of energy efficiency and accessibility. Especially in the case of old sports facilities, basic improvement is very often a requirement in order for the project to receive the state's sports facilities construction grant. Grant criteria often require that the project promotes accessibility, accessibility and sustainable development.

What does it take?

A construction project for public facilities consists of a needs assessment phase, a project planning phase, an implementation planning phase and a construction phase.

In the needs assessment phase the users' need for the facilities is clarified by name. This is usually done on a very rough level, and the project does not yet carry out very large surveys or condition surveys. Also, architectural or space planning is usually not done yet, but a preliminary space program is presented. A first, very rough cost estimate is created for the project, with the help of which the project is placed in the investment plan for the municipality's financial plan years, which usually extend a few years into the future. The statement of needs is approved by the institution in accordance with the administrative rules. In Riihimäki, it is the city government.

Project planning phase follows the needs assessment phase, and in some cases there may be a long time between the preparation of these. In the preparation of the project plan, extensive condition surveys and surveys are carried out on the property. The planning of the needs assessment phase is deepened and based on the needs assessment, a detailed space program and space diagrams are drawn up. In some projects, preliminary sketch drawings are also prepared to confirm the project costs.

The drafting of the project plan already aims at a very accurate cost estimate based on the surveys, reports and user needs. In connection with project planning, alternatives can also be drawn up for the implementation of the project. The project plan and its implementation option are approved by the institution in accordance with the administrative rules. In Riihimäki, the city government. Riihimäki land swimming pool the project is now at this point.

Implementation planning phase scheduled ahead of the project's tendering and the start of the construction phase. In the implementation planning phase, the project's plans are refined at a detailed level, and during it e.g. structural design, building permit application, and the project's cost estimate is further refined.

Under construction the construction contract is progressing according to the contract and plans. The contract has been tendered and a contract price has been received. The contract price may refine the cost estimate again. As the project progresses, however, we may still come across situations that require deviations from the prepared plans. In this case, we are talking about additions and changes, which can have an effect of increasing or decreasing the costs of the project. There is its own precisely defined protocol for processing, negotiating and approving additions and changes. The actual costs of the project will only be revealed at the very end in connection with the final financial statement. Riihimäki swimming pool the renovation project is now in this construction phase.

The 1950s land-based swimming pool faces a big renovation sooner or later

The discussion that took place around the issue has therefore been partially misleading in its terms, or at least it has left room for interpretation. The situation in Riihimäki regarding the entire swimming pool is now as follows: swimming pool the renovation project is in the contract phase and the demolition works will soon be nearing completion. The project is progressing in accordance with the agreements drawn up. Landauimalan regarding this, we are in the project planning phase, in connection with which it is decided which option and costs the project will be promoted with, if it is promoted. One option is that the land swimming pool project will not proceed in the next few years. In this case, however, the annual growing repair costs, poor energy efficiency and high operating costs must be taken into account.

The concrete of Maauimala's reservoirs and the pipelines used to transfer water have been at the mercy of the weather for about 70 years and they will not last forever. The leaks have increased every year and a big renovation is inevitably ahead sooner or at most a little later. The office holder preparation of the project plan is almost finished. Proceedings and decisions of the institutions are expected based on it. The progress model of the Maauimala project will be clarified with them.

Markus Rantsi
sports manager

Follow the progress of the swimming hall's renovation on the swimming hall's website.