A school in Kuusamo was built using the sustainable and settlement-free log solution, SmartLog.

Based on an extensive condition assessment, the Kuusamo City Council decided in December 2018 to construct a new primary school in Nilonkangas.

The city selected Kontio as the supplier of timber for the project. 

 Nilonkangas School. The exterior walls are built using settlement-free SmartLog timber. 

Nilonkangas School is located in a nature-rich area of Kuusamo, near the Nilon school district. The school grounds offer views of local marshland and forest landscapes. Outdoor recreational paths and sports facilities are in close proximity to the school and are available for student use.

The school serves students from grades 1 to 6, and it also accommodates three preschool groups within the same building. There are 291 primary school-aged children and 48 preschool children attending the school, with a staff of 40.

The central two-story space also serves as a shared dining hall for the entire school, as well as a learning and presentation area.

The school’s spaces are organized by age groups and are centered around a large communal area spread over two floors. This central space functions as a shared dining area, as well as a learning and presentation zone. The learning areas form separate units connected by a central foyer and bridges on the second floor, which link the different spaces together.

The building’s frame consists of reinforced concrete columns and slabs, along with steel beams. The external walls and partition walls of the central communal space are made from Kontio’s non-settling SmartLog timber, with approximately 12 kilometers of timber used in the project.

Inside, the timber surfaces create a calming and pleasant learning environment that enhances the well-being and concentration of students. 

 The school's sports hall. 

Nilonkangas school

• The school was completed in Kuusamo in the fall of 2023.
• There are 291 primary school students and 48 preschool children attending the school.
• The external and partition walls are made from non-settling SmartLog timber, with around 12 kilometers of timber used in total.

PHOTOS BY JENNI NAUMANEN