The Kiihtelysvaara Church in Joensuu, originally completed in 1770, was tragically destroyed in an arson fire in 2018. The new church was to be built on the historic churchyard where the old one had stood, making the project unique in Finland. The new church opened its doors to the public in December 2024.
The new church combines old and new. Its architecture respects tradition without being a direct replica of its predecessor. The former church consisted only of a 450-seat sanctuary with a vestibule and sacristy. The new building now brings all parish functions under one roof. The new sanctuary accommodates 120 people, while the other spaces are designed for flexible, multi-purpose use. The aim was to create a building with a high utilization rate that serves the parish’s diverse needs.
Jensen Hughes served as the fire safety expert in this exceptional project, contributing its expertise to the construction process. The new church combines traditional log construction with modern CLT structures. Inside, fire-protected wooden slats create a warm atmosphere, serving as both structural and aesthetic elements. Unlike in traditional church architecture, the new building opens views of the churchyard and surrounding nature through large windows.
Designing fire safety required special expertise and the ability to think beyond standard code-based solutions. The oversized fire compartment of the church was justified through a performance-based approach, using qualitative analysis and evacuation time calculations.
The Kiihtelysvaara Church was awarded the title of Regional Building Project of the Year 2024 in North Karelia.