At Lumit High School, students enjoy vibrant theatrical performances, a strong sense of community, and spontaneous musical acts during breaks. Kuopio Art High School, recently relocated to a new building, has made a nationwide impact on performing arts education. With 600 students, the school specializes in creative disciplines including music, dance, and expressive arts.
Completed in autumn 2022, this building marks the first phase of the Kuopionlahti seaside development and is the first new school constructed in the center of Kuopio in a century.
The design of Lumit was conceived as part of the 2017 Public Architecture Competition, which sought a vision for developing the Kuopionlahti region. Once completed, the Kuopionlahti coastal area will become a vibrant urban cultural center, harmonizing built structures with the natural environment.
The school aims to create a learning environment that empowers students and staff to engage deeply in performing arts education and professional development. The challenge was not only to accommodate specific spatial and teaching requirements but also to establish the building as a shared cultural venue hosting diverse public events.
Lumit features three main entrances that lead into the central foyer and lobby. Most public facilities and halls are located on the street level, adjacent to the main hall for easy access during events. The music and dance classrooms are positioned near the hall, allowing activities to be visible and audible from the building’s exterior walls.
The interior center is anchored by a multi-directional performance stage, which can open simultaneously in three directions through sliding walls—towards the gymnasium, restaurant, and central auditorium. Spaces are arranged in layers around the grandstand staircase and its lobby, creating a hierarchy that fosters an open learning environment emphasizing group work near the lobby, while more focused learning areas are situated around the perimeter.
The school’s black box multifunctional theater, specialized music learning spaces, and dance hall offer exceptional conditions for cultural and artistic education. The design carefully integrates extensive theater and performance equipment alongside acoustical treatments, which have been a key focus throughout. Notably, the Black Box Hall is the only school-accessible performance space of its kind in Finland.
The new building respects the unique character of its surroundings, including Kuopio’s traditional grid layout and beach landscape. The staircase beneath the canopy connects indoor and outdoor spaces, serving also as an outdoor auditorium, performance area, and classroom. The canopy shields the hall’s glass façade from overheating and weather exposure.
Lumit’s light gray brick façade presents a subdued exterior along busy streets, opening warmly towards streets and parks with wooden overlays. The large hall’s exterior walls lack windows, yet subtle variations in brick patterns add visual interest and playfulness.
Lumit is a community-focused, functional, and secure high school. Its spatial design highlights visual connections and openness, while also offering spaces for retreat and relaxation. The vibrant cultural pulse of the building is evident from the surrounding streets and squares, with activities visible and audible around the clock.
Project Drawings
△ Underground Floor Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architect: Lukkairoinen Architects
Area: 9,550 m²
Project Year: 2022
Photographer: Aukusti Heinonen
Manufacturers: Aura ST-Team, Fenestra, GRAPHISOFT, HSL Group, JELD-WEN Finland, Jukola Industries, Knauf, Kone Oyj, Koolmat Desso, Lumir Oy, Mapei Ultratop, Metos, Nordtreat Finland, Purso, Puusepänliike Peltoniemi Oy, Raita Sport Oy, Saint-Gobain Finland, Ecophon, Solibri, Tambest Glass Solutions, Tiileri, and others
Structural Engineers: Esa Tuohimaa, Eemeli Tikkanen
MEP Engineers: Granlund Oy / Petri Korhonen (heating, plumbing, and HVAC design), Seppo Mäkelä (electricity and lighting design); Akukon Oy / Tapio Ilomäki (audiovisual design), Timo Risku (mechanical theatre systems design)
Landscape Architect: VSU Maisema Arkkitehdit Oy / Outi Palosaari
Fire Safety Engineers: Fire Engineering Office Markku Kauriala Oy / Päivi Myllylä & Risto Island
Main Contractor: NCC Finland Oy
Location: Kuopio, Finland
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