Construction at Tallinn Real School and Hiiumaa School Faces Delays
While most of Tallinn's school renovation projects are on schedule this summer, unexpected issues at Tallinn Real School and Hiiumaa School have caused delays that will extend into autumn.
The majority of construction work in Tallinn's educational institutions this summer is proceeding on schedule, but unforeseen problems have arisen at the building sites of the Tallinn Real School and Hiiumaa School, forcing work to continue into the autumn, according to deputy mayors Tiit Terik and Andrei Kante.
Currently, the Tallinn Real School is the greatest cause for concern. While all work is on schedule, an annex built on the site of the former stadium is causing problems. That area was also used for water drainage. Water is seeping into the school's basement, disrupting the construction timeline. Engineers are investigating whether this is a design flaw, which will be determined after additional inspections. In the meantime, workers are pumping out water on site.
Students in grades 5–12 will return to the building on Estonia Boulevard on September 1, but primary school students will continue learning in the new building on Roosikrantsi Street for the first trimester. Physical education classes will be held outdoors because the annex is not yet usable – the gymnasium is ready but unfurnished.
At Hiiumaa School, unexpected problems have also complicated the timetable, including minor collapses during work. Builders have promised to finish by mid-August, after which the process of obtaining a usage permit will begin. Classes are expected to start on September 1, but there is a contingency plan allowing for temporary relocation to a building on Vabaduse Boulevard.
Renovations at the Jakob Westholm Gymnasium will begin in the autumn. This means that if Tallinn Real School moves out of its temporary location on Harju Street, the gymnasium will move in.
Kante dismissed concerns that construction would reduce available school places. "There are places in almost all schools, except those in the city center where student numbers do not allow for new places," he said.
The city is investing nearly €100 million in these projects. Tallinn has 60 comprehensive schools, one college of applied sciences, and 115 kindergartens.
