Social infrastructure investor Hemsö has purchased the Salpausselkä School property in Lahti from Salpausselän Koulutalo Oy. The transaction includes an approximately 8,700 square meter school building. The purchase price was 17 million euros, which corresponds to 1,954 €/m².
As part of the deal, the City of Lahti continues as the tenant. A new 20-year lease agreement was signed between Hemsö and the city on July 1, extending the previous lease by three years. Under the new contract, Hemsö assumes responsibility for the property’s maintenance. However, the city’s property-related expenses will remain at their current level.
Salpausselkä Comprehensive School operates in the building, serving around 660 students. The school offers specialized education in sports, natural sciences, and mathematics.
Salpausselän Koulutalo Oy, previously owned by private individuals, built the school in the late 1950s to expand educational capacity in Lahti. The city has leased the property since the 1970s. Ulf Pråhl, Chairman of the Board, explains that the sale was prompted by the increasing need for professional property management expertise and financial resources to support the school’s development.
He notes that the 2015–2017 renovation modernized the facilities considerably but also imposed a significant financial burden on the company. The sale ensures continued development of the property and enables the Salppuri Foundation to increase its support for education, including scholarships and teacher training.
Salpausselkä School’s oldest section dates to 1959, with expansions in 1963, 1979, and 1993. The most recent renovation added 1,200 square meters between 2015 and 2017. The school accommodates grades 7 through 9, as well as preparatory education for vocational studies, and is located next to the Lahti Sports Centre.