Yesterday, a topping-out ceremony was held for the new building of Tallinn Huvikeskus Kullo, marking the completion of the building’s structural height. The building is scheduled to be completed in February 2027 and will house the Kullo hobby school, the Kristiine Youth Centre, and the Kristiine branch of the Central Library.
Kullo is Estonia’s largest and oldest hobby school, with more than 2,400 children and young people participating in extracurricular education – from across Tallinn as well as from elsewhere.
According to Tiit Terik, Deputy Mayor for City Property, the new Kullo building is an important investment for Tallinn, creating modern conditions for both extracurricular education and community services. “Kristiine has so far been the only district in the city without a public library. Residents have felt this absence for a long time, and the completion of the new building will finally make it possible to fill this gap. The topping-out ceremony marks a significant milestone where the work done so far begins to take tangible shape. We thank the designers, builders, and all cooperation partners for their contribution – solutions that serve Tallinn residents for decades and enrich the city’s public space are born through collaboration,” said Terik.
The former Kullo building, constructed in the 1970s, no longer met modern requirements or the specific needs of extracurricular education. The outdated building was demolished, and a contemporary complex is now being built in its place, with more than half of the space dedicated to Kullo’s teaching and work areas. The Kristiine Youth Centre and the library give the building broader use, offering the community diverse opportunities for leisure and learning.
“With the new Kullo building, it is particularly significant that, alongside extracurricular education, a library and a youth centre are together under one roof. This is a holistic approach that creates a diverse and vibrant learning environment in Kristiine. For the well-being of children and young people, we are not just building rooms – we are creating opportunities that support learning, interaction, and growth,” added Andrei Kante, Deputy Mayor for Education.
An architectural competition was held in 2021 to find an integrated solution for the new building and the surrounding Löwenruh Park. The winning design concept, titled “Päike” (Sun), was submitted by Kuu OÜ and Nikita Atikin OÜ. The authors of the architectural solution are Koit Ojaliiv and Kristel Niisuke, with interior architect Tarmo Piirmets and landscape architect Kristian Nigul. The building is being constructed under the management of the Merko Ehitus Eesti team.
“Kullo is a very demanding and complex project as a building. Nearly 300 workers have been involved in construction so far, with 80 contractors and suppliers contributing. Construction has not been hindered by harsh winter cold or summer heat. The full height of the Kullo building has now been reached, and the team continues work with the goal of handing the building over for use by children and the community no later than a year from now,” said Jaan Mäe, Chairman of the Management Board of Merko Ehitus Eesti.
According to Ahti Kallikorm, the district mayor of the Kristiine district, the topping-out ceremony is a symbolic step toward the completion of the new building for Estonia’s largest hobby school, and the result of joint efforts is already clearly visible. “Although Kullo will only be able to move back into the building in February 2027, the building has now reached its full height. The new building will provide a modern and inspiring environment for young people’s diverse hobby groups to operate and develop. Just a little more patience for the Kullo community – it will be worth it, because soon you will be back home,” Kallikorm assured.
In addition to the Kullo building itself, the surrounding outdoor areas are planned for public use and are seamlessly integrated with Löwenruh Park, making the area even more accessible and attractive. An important addition is the long-awaited 300-seat concert hall, which will create opportunities for hosting a wide range of events.
