Rosegarden - Racket Sports Centre

Roga Sport Oy developed a new 13,000-square-meter racket sports center in Espoo, comprising six indoor tennis courts, 15 indoor padel courts, ten outdoor tennis courts, and six outdoor padel courts. The large-scale project was located on a four-hectare plot of former peatland, which required exceptionally detailed planning and extensive soil stabilization solutions for the earthworks. About one-third of the €16 million project budget was allocated to foundation construction.

Planning for the earthworks began in autumn 2023 and played a crucial role in both the workflow and budgeting of the project. The site's waterlogged condition was evident from the fact that a surveyor sank into the ground and conventional soil investigation drilling rigs could not be brought onto the site at all.

Work at the site started in January 2024 with drainage. Afterward, a three-meter layer of peat was removed, beneath which lay soft clay. The excavated peat was repurposed for soil improvement in Espoo.

"Recycling was also utilised in the crushed rock material brought to the site. Approximately 100,000 tons of rock were transported from nearby construction sites. The short transport distances and the ability to crush the material on-site significantly affected both costs and the carbon footprint," says Louhintahiekka’s CEO Aapo Lahtinen.

The biggest challenge of the earthworks was excessively soft ground, which was resolved using double-layer geogrid reinforcements. This solution eliminated the need to stabilize the piling base. The project employed concrete piles, drilled piles, and steel pipe piles, totaling approximately 15,000 meters of piling. The building also required angled piles, which were implemented using drilled and pipe piling. For the outdoor courts, the soil was compacted using embankments.

"The earthworks for the project were tailor-made for Louhintahiekka’s core expertise. We oversaw design coordination and introduced several versatile and innovative solutions to manage the site’s demanding conditions. Our expertise and meticulous planning have been crucial in keeping the project on schedule and within budget," says Lahtinen.