News from the construction site
What is happening with the renovation of the Cathedral? On this page you will find up-to-date information about the ongoing work as well as the plans that have been drawn up.
Monthly summaries
The implementation phase of the renovation of Turku Cathedral began in April 2026. What has been happening at the Cathedral? You can follow it through these approximately monthly summaries.
May 2026
Once the work has begun, there has been plenty of activity inside the Cathedral. The first major task is to protect the structures of the Cathedral in preparation for the construction site. In addition, the side chapels are sealed with protective coverings to prevent construction dust from entering them during the renovation. (Apart from restoration work, essentially no other work is carried out in the side chapels.) This phase will take several months, but it is important to carry it out very carefully in order to avoid damage and impacts.
Archaeological investigations of the Domcafé extension area, that is, the former brick storage, are also underway. It is estimated that around 4,500 people have been buried beneath Turku Cathedral, but the Unikankare hill surrounding the Cathedral served as a burial ground for the people of Turku until the late 18th century. Therefore, each excavation on the church hill inevitably brings to light the remains of past residents of Turku. After the excavations, the individuals who have been buried beneath the brick storage will be reinterred in their own burial place beneath the chapel. Excavations in the brick storage are necessary due to the technical requirements of the Domcafé extension, such as water supply and drainage systems. The current Domcafé area was already connected to the Cathedral’s water and sewage systems in the 1990s.
At the same time, the plans are being continuously refined. Architects and the contractor review the implementation and seek the best solutions to challenging issues. Technical designers draw plans and maps showing routes for cables, pipes, and conduits, as well as required spaces, supports, and more. The implementation of the restoration plans is being practically prepared with increasingly detailed designs. And of course, everything is carefully scheduled and organized to avoid delays.
The summer will be a busy period at the site, as there is a great deal to be done. Nevertheless, the work is progressing smoothly under the guidance of skilled professionals.
Photo: Simo Ahtee
Earlier summaries
April 2026
The construction contract for Turku Cathedral was signed on 7 April 2026. NCC Suomi Oy was selected as the contractor for the project. Work began immediately, and the parish union handed over the Cathedral to NCC as a construction site. “Take good care of our church,” instructed Kalle Luoma, Director of Real Estate for the parish union, to Esa Lehmusvuori, Regional Director for Western Finland at NCC Suomi Oy. NCC has also approached the project with great care and respect for the Cathedral. This is evident in the systematic approach, thoroughness, and initiative shown by the company’s employees in the planning work.
During April, fencing was already erected around the Cathedral to separate the construction site from its surroundings. The lower steps of the church will continue to serve as a resting place for passers-by and as a stage for events even during the renovation. The construction site offices will be located on the north side of the church, opposite the Åbo Akademi University Library. Inside the Cathedral, protective structures have also begun to be installed. The side chapels are largely unaffected by this renovation, which is why some of the church’s movable items are stored there, and the chapels are protected with coverings against dust and the like.
NCC publishes a weekly site bulletin in Finnish, which can be ordered as a newsletter to your email via NCC’s website if desired. Subscribe to NCC’s weekly bulletin (in Finnish) via this link.
Photo: Simo Ahtee
Planning phase
The planning of the renovation of Turku Cathedral began several years ago with various surveys and considerations regarding what the renovation would include. Architects produced initial sketches, which were then further developed. You can explore the ideas from the planning phase in this section.
Initial needs and project plan
Planning for the renovation began already in the early 2020s. The parishes started to consider which improvements could best be combined with upgrades to the building’s technical systems. The survey was carried out broadly: employees, elected representatives, and parish members were all invited to share their views.
You can follow how the planning process in these YouTube videos (in Finnish):
The chief designer, Hanna Lyytinen, presented the completed project plan at an information session on 21 May 2024. The event was live-streamed and can be viewed on YouTube. However, the renovation of Turku Cathedral is being carried out as a project management contracting. This means that new plans are also developed during the implementation phase as the construction work progresses. As a result, the details of the renovation may change over the course of the project.
What is being renovated now?
The renovation of the Cathedral primarily consists of renewing the building services systems dating from the 1970s. Electrical, HVAC, lighting, and AV systems are being modernized so that they will not require major renewal for at least the next 50 years. In addition, new gathering spaces are being created in the Cathedral, and accessibility is also being improved.
The most significant changes are taking place in St. Ursula’s Chapel, where the Cathedral’s public restrooms are located, and in the attic of the sacristy. In both areas, more space for gatherings is being created. In St. Ursula’s Chapel, an intermediate floor will be constructed to increase floor area. An elevator will also be installed in the chapel, enabling accessible passage to the Cathedral Museum in the future. Meeting spaces will also be built in the attic of the sacristy. Accessible access to these spaces from outside the Cathedral will be provided by an elevator. This elevator will be implemented by raising the Pump room. (The Pump room, located next to the sacristy, is the newest part of the Cathedral’s façade and dates back to the 1770s. It used to house the church’s firefighting equipment.)
In the nave, the changes will be relatively subtle, but they are present. The last rows of pews under the organ gallery at the rear of the nave will be removed. This will create more space in the back of the church and make it possible to move the votive candle stand closer to the main entrance. In this way, visitors can step inside and light a candle even when an event is taking place in the nave. In addition, a soundproof door is planned between the nave and the entrance hall.
At the front of the nave, a new chancel organ will be installed. The old chancel organ from 1973 has already been dismantled and removed. The new organ will have 57 + 4 registers. The pipework will be placed on the right side of the main nave at gallery level. The organ will be played from a movable console at floor level.
Other improvements are also planned, for example to support tourism. The Cathedral café, Domcafé, located on the lower level, will be expanded through the wall into the adjacent brick storage space. The information point in the entrance hall will also be renewed. The Cathedral will also receive new furnishings that will, in their own way, tell future generations about the renovation of the 2020s. In this way, our time is adding yet another layer to the Cathedral’s centuries-long history of change.
Studies in Finnish
In order to renovate the Cathedral, it is necessary to understand it as thoroughly as possible. For this reason, extensive studies of the Cathedral have been commissioned, making it possible to move the planning process forward. Turku Cathedral is an exceptionally multifaceted site that can and should be examined from several different perspectives at the same time.
The studies are available only in Finnish
Theological study of Turku Cathedral
The church interior is filled with symbolism. Church customs and traditions, passed down over millennia, still largely determine which elements make up a church and a service. These elements are rarely examined in depth and are sometimes perceived as limiting factors. However, the theological study by Mika K. T. Pajunen sheds light on the changes that have taken place in the Cathedral over the centuries. Which elements have remained unchanged from the beginning, and which have evolved according to the trends of their time? And what can be changed today without diminishing the sacred character of the church space?
Building historical study of Turku Cathedral
The Cathedral is like a patchwork. It has been built in stages and rebuilt several times over the centuries. It has suffered from fires and looting, and its structures have been renewed as they have been damaged. In order to carry out repairs, it is necessary to know from which period each part originates. This makes it possible to ensure that the measures taken best support the preservation of its historical layers. For this reason, a comprehensive building historical study of the Cathedral has been carried out. It was prepared by Arkkitehdit Freese & Schulman in 2023.