The City Council will discuss the Power Plant and college premises on December 1st.

The Riihimäki City Council has several major issues to decide on Monday, December 1, 2025, regarding the city's future and economy.

The agenda includes, among other things, the Power Plant project plan and the needs assessment for colleges.

The project, which is located in the immediate vicinity of Riihimäki Railway Station, is intended to be developed into a unique event and cultural center. The project has been under the leadership of the city since 2022.

The power plant will be developed in a city-led manner.

The Power Plant project plan, which will be presented to the City Council on Monday, includes the technical and commercial plans required for the investment decision. The Mayor proposes to the City Council that the city request statements on the Power Plant project and concept plan from committees and stakeholders. The Mayor also proposes to the City Council that the city request Riihimäen Tilat ja Kehitys Oy (RTOY) to draw up preliminary agreements with the Power Plant tenants.

According to the plan, it would be good to develop Voimala in a city-led manner. This would allow for a more moderate rental level compared to a model implemented by a private investor. At the same time, the property would remain owned by the city through its own real estate company.

A new subsidiary for the power plant

According to the project plan, the implementation of the project would require the establishment of a new subsidiary. In addition to the event operator, the power plant would house a restaurant operator, the Riihimäki Music Institute and a cinema. In addition, the power plant would have office and meeting facilities. The city is currently in negotiations with several different parties. The city is negotiating with Akun Tehdas Oy about implementing the technology investments in the power plant.

The total project costs are approximately 22,1 million euros excluding VAT. The costs include design and construction fees, separate investments by tenants and project provisions. The city has prepared for a total investment of 7,5 million euros in the budget investment plan. In addition, it is likely that a guarantee from the city will be needed for the loan of the real estate company to be established.

According to the schedule presented in the project plan, the power plant could be operational in the spring of 2028. The final approval of the project plan and the investment decision will be made after the statements requested on the draft and other calculations and analyses have been processed by the city government.

Needs assessment for schools and youth facilities returns to consideration

The City Council will also discuss the needs assessment for colleges and youth facilities at its meeting on 1 December 2025. The needs assessment currently being considered includes four different options for locating the current community college (College Building), Kutomo, music college, youth center Monari, and the music college and art school located in Kalevantalo.

The City Government already discussed the needs assessment in June. The City Government returned the needs assessment for re-preparation, paying attention to the entries in the stable economy program regarding the prioritization of investments.

A music institute is proposed to be located in Voimala.

Based on the newly prepared needs assessment, the Mayor proposes to initiate the project planning phase so that the music institute would be located in Voimala and the other functions, with the exception of the art school, would be located in their current properties. The most necessary repairs and improvements to accessibility are planned for these properties over a five-year period. A separate needs assessment is proposed for Kalevantalo and the functions located there, such as the art school.

In the proposed decision alternative, the construction investment costs would be 6,2 million euros. The amount includes a 4,45 million euro share of the Voimala renovation, which concerns the premises of the music institute. The music institute would rent the premises from the Voimala real estate company. The remaining costs consist of the costs of necessary repairs and accessibility improvements to the community college's Opisthotalo, Monari and Kutomo.

From the perspective of prioritizing investments and a stable economy, the options have weighed the importance of the Voimala project, the premises that are particularly inadequate for the operation of the music institute, and the costs of renovating Kalevantalo. The decision proposed by the mayor would require a service network update for the music institute's current premises. In addition, the decision would necessitate investigating the further measures for Kalevantalo and the related location of the art school's functions. This would also require updating the service network.

The newly prepared needs assessment presents a total of four different options for locating the activities. The option presented by the mayor is the second most affordable of these. The presented option would significantly improve the music institute's currently inadequate teaching facilities.