Completion of Karelia Air Wing’s new barracks – more than €7 million investment in conscript wellbeing
Karelia Air Wing’s new barracks built by Defence Properties Finland has completed at the base in Rissala, near Kuopio. The building was officially inaugurated on 21 January, ahead of which conscripts had been able to use the new facilities since the beginning of January. As a whole, the barracks can be used for housing and training conscripts once furnishing is completed.
The new building features accommodation quarters for conscripts, recreational facilities, teaching premises, separate drying rooms for equipment and staff offices. The construction project took into account both the functionality and cosiness of the premises. Particular attention was paid to the sound insulation of the structures to prevent aircraft noise from fighter jets causing a nuisance inside the building.
The new facilities meet the requirements of the Finnish Defence Forces’ work and learning environment concept. The equipment drying rooms are located separately from the accommodation areas, which improves indoor air quality and creates more comfortable conditions for conscripts. The toilets and sanitary facilities at the barracks are more private and suitable for shared use by men and women.
A virtual training space has been built in the training facilities and a room has been reserved for an indoor firearms simulator. In addition, large, modifiable classrooms support the learning environments of the updated training of the Defence Forces.
Barracks project completed in its entirety
”The air wing is really pleased that the barracks project has now completed in its entirety. The new barracks provides conscripts with healthy, contemporary accommodation quarters, not to mention excellent training facilities. Besides traditional classroom facilities, design of the barracks also took the requirements of a weapons and firearms simulator and virtual training into account. Supply facilities, which are also important for conscript training, are now adequate and appropriate,” says Lieutenant Colonel Samuli Tanttu, Chief of Staff at Karelia Air Wing.
The new barracks replaces the old barracks building dating from the early 1960s and the renovation of which was discontinued because the building was in such poor condition and has since been demolished. In addition, an extension to the barracks completed in 2023 now complements the complex.
Work completed to schedule
”The barracks project at the Rissala operating base is an investment in the wellbeing of conscripts and the modern operating environment of the Finnish Air Force. When a nation provides its prime age group for national defence, we must ensure that they have healthy and safe conditions of service,” says Heikki Savolainen, Director, Construction Management at Defence Properties Finland.
The modernisation project cost a total of around €7.2 million and Rakennustoimisto Eero Reijonen Oy was the lead contractor. Construction work started in November 2023 and completed to schedule.
Defence Properties Finland currently has underway a renovation project of the barracks at Satakunta Air Wing’s operating base in Pirkkala. When the project completes at the end of this year, all the accommodation barracks used by the Finnish Air Force will have been renovated to bring them into line with the requirements of the 21st century.
