Variku School and new athletic building to open their doors
2 September / On Thursday, 29 August, the thoroughly reconstructed Variku School and a new athletic building will be opening their doors.
According to Mayor Urmas Klaas, children from Variku will be able to begin the new academic year in one of Tartu's most modern basic schools. ‘I hope that the new and modern learning environment, interesting spatial solutions and cosy interior serve to inspire teachers as well as students, thereby also creating a new quality in teaching,' said Klaas. The Mayor added that the Variku School now also has excellent opportunities at its disposal for promoting movement by students. ‘The new athletic building will greatly enhance the sporting opportunities available to students and the entire neighbourhood, since the building will be open to all who are interested,' added Klaas.
All that remains of the old school building is the structural frame and the exterior walls. The building received a new spatial solution and modern communications systems. All floors have been resolved using the concept of an open learning landscape, which allows for class sizes to be changed and new teaching methods to be implemented. The school’s atrium has been expanded by nearly 300 square metres.
The warm tones and wood surfaces used throughout the interior design create a cosy interior for the entire school building.
New playing fields and playgrounds have been built around the building for holding lessons. A mini basketball court, football field and a small skate-park will be open to the public.
A new athletic building has risen on the site of the Variku School's former gymnasium, in which excellent conditions have been created for enjoying various sports. The athletic building has two full-sized ball courts, a weight room and mat room, washing rooms and dressing rooms.
During the day, the athletic facility will be used by students, and in the evening it will be open to anyone who is interested.
The total cost of the project was EUR 11 million. Tartu contributed EUR 7.7 million, with EUR 3.4 million for the reconstruction of the school building financed by SA Innove via the measure ‘Organising the Network of Basic Schools During the Period 2014-2030'. The city built the athletic building using its own funds.
Last changed 02.09.2019
