Steel Pile News
Piling work in progress in the construction of new residential district Ranta Tampella
March 23, 2017 8:00 CET 6 min read
During the coming years, Ranta-Tampella is one of the largest construction areas in Tampere. The area will be constructed in many phases at Tampella lakeside area as a downtown extension by the shore of Näsijärvi lake. Over 2,000 new apartments will be constructed to the area of approximately 16.5 hectares.
Ranta-Tampella area development was allowed by construction of Rantatunneli tunnel, a 2.3 kilometre road tunnel – the longest in Finland. The tunnel freed up a large swath of central Tampere’s northern areas for the use of residents. Rock material generated during the tunnel excavation has been used to fill in the waterfront for the park being created in the Ranta-Tampella district.
Ranta-Tampella area development project has many players and the total value of the project is approximately EUR 900 million. YIT is the biggest constructor at the area and it has building permit for floor area of 80,000 square metres for its plots. The preconstruction of the area was started in the summer 2014 and the whole area is expected to be completed by 2030.
Figure 1. Over 2,000 new apartments will be constructed to Ranta-Tampella, the area of approximately 16.5 hectares.
YIT started the construction of Ranta-Tampella area project in November 2016. The first phase to be constructed is Asunto Oy Tampereen Näsinkeula apartment building. Ranta-Tampella has aroused strong interest and Näsinkeula apartments were reserved in an exceptionally short time when the advance publicity started in the beginning of September. The central location close the city centre and by the Näsijärvi lake creates a good basis for a unique residential area.
Figure 2. Building work has started from apartment buildings Näsinkeula and Kanavanvahti and two parking facilities.
Suomen Teräspaalutus Oy has been responsible for piling Asunto Oy Tampereen Näsinkeula apartment building, Asunto Oy Tampereen Kanavanvahti apartment building and two parking facilities. Because of demand soil conditions and embankment made by blasted rock used pile type was drilled piles. Work included in total 623 pieces of RD piles (411 tons) and all piles were S550J2H steel grade. Thanks to high-strength steel, less piles could be used. Piling work started in October 2016 for Tampereen Näsinkeula where RDs220/12.5 piles were used. Piling for Tampereen Kanavanvahti started in January 2017. RDs170/12.5 and RDs140/10 piles were used. Piling for the parking facility of Keulakortteli, block of houses where Näsinkeula belongs to, was done in the turn of the year using RDs220/12.5 and RRs270/12.5 piles. Piling for the parking facility of Kanavakortteli, block of houses where Kanavanvahti belongs to, was done in February using RDs170/12.5 piles.
Figure 3. Piling for Asunto Oy Tampereen Kanavanvahti apartment building started in January 2017.
Soil conditions in Ranta-Tampella area consist mainly of different fill layers. Materials used in these fills vary a lot. Old fill layers have been mainly removed to the water level of Näsijärvi lake. New layers consist of boulders and crushed bedrock from excavation of Rantatunneli. Pile lengths in these first two projects varied from 4 m to 15 m.
Figure 4. Suomen Teräspaalutus Oy piling in Ranta-Tampella.
YIT’s third apartment building, called Ykköspurje, will be built earliest during summer 2017. Construction work is dependent on the market demand for the apartments.
Apart from YIT, also other construction companies are involved in Ranta-Tampella. One of them is PEAB, who aims to start the construction work during summer 2017. Their block includes five apartment buildings.
Figure 5. Construction work on going in Ranta-Tampella in February 2016.