Kupittaa Core

The aim of the Kupittaa Partnership Project is to create a series of urban spaces in the planning zone to form a strong and energetic core for the Turku Science Park. The project area is called Kupittaa Core (in Finnish Kupittaan kärki).

Combining public space and various services, the Kupittaa Core will bring more vitality to the Science Park and support the operations of the rapidly growing group of actors in the area.

The objective is to have a high-quality overall plan that will involve city centre-type construction, tall buildings and versatile hybrid facilities. The Science Park area is very important for the planned One Hour Train connection between Turku and Helsinki and other public transport, so in order to improve accessibility and internal mobility, functional solution models are required to integrate the Kupittaa railway station and mobility services with the rest of it.

Development underway

The Kupittaa Core planning zone (Kupittaan kärki city plan) is mostly located in the Itäharju industrial area, which is a variable land use area. It currently includes sections that are in industrial and office use as well as general areas, traffic areas and related road-side areas and temporary parking areas. The majority of the properties are owned by the city, but there also are sections that are privately owned and leased as well as a railway area belonging to the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.

The infrastructure projects and more detailed planning of the public procurement are focused on the city-owned land areas surrounding the planned deck. The urban area development plan for the entire planning zone will be reformed more extensively on the basis of the overall plan and the further development of the alliance phase in cooperation with landowners.

The planning zone forms a connection for traffic and operations between two sections of the city that are currently fairly separate. As a result of the reforms, Helsinginkatu and the railway are no longer obstacles and Itäharju becomes a natural part of the Science Park area.

Kupittaa Partnership Project procurement package

  • Overall plan for preparing an urban area development plan; will encompass the other sub-entities.
  • Infrastructure project consisting of a deck crossing Helsinginkatu and the railway, and a compulsory parking facility to be built on the Itäharju side.
  • Taito campus of the Turku Vocational Institute receiving synergy benefits from Turku University of Applied Sciences and other campus actors in the region.
  • Additional procurement opportunities (options) as viable parts of the deck project.
  • Obligations and permitted building volume.

The Terävin kärki alliance consortium was selected to implement the Kupittaa Partnership Project. The decision was confirmed by the Turku City Board on 5th of December 2022. The consortium consists of YIT Finland Ltd, Lundén Architecture Oy and Arkkitehdit von Boehm – Renell Oy, as well as COBE A/S, AFRY Finland Oy and WSP Finland Oy as designated subcontractors.

The alliance contract for the Kupittaa Partnership Project was signed on 27 March 2023, confirming the transition to the project’s development phase.

The aim is to bring the project plans of the infrastructure project and Taito campus for decision-making in 2024. The project plans will be approved by the Turku City Council.

Video from the group that was chosen to implement the Kupittaa Partnership Project with the City of  Turku. Terävin kärki: Lundén Architecture Company, Cobe & Renell Käppi Arkkitehdit Oy.