Old factory to be transformed

NCC will convert the historic Sanitas factory building in Turku, Finland, into modern housing. The client is the University of Turku Foundation, which is paying SEK 180 million for the project.

The historic factory building from the 1940s will undergo an extensive renovation while preserving both its structural frame and its facade. The project will create 75 new rental apartments, with NCC as the contractor.

Sanitas is an industrial building from the 1940s that has also served as teaching facilities for the University of Turku. The existing building, approximately 2,900 square meters (31,200 square feet), will be renovated with its structural frame preserved and its facade restored.

In addition, NCC will build an extension of approximately 2,100 square meters (22,600 square feet) and an underground parking garage. In total, the project will include 75 rental apartments.

“Sanitas is an excellent example of the value of a renovation project. By combining modern housing needs with the preservation of cultural heritage, we can give existing buildings a new lease on life,” says Esa Lehmusvuori, Head of Department at NCC Building Nordics.

Most of the property’s future revenue will support the University of Turku and its research.

NCC began construction in late September 2026 and plans to complete the project in summer 2028.

Further reading: Defying the downturn – building hundreds of new homes