In Jyväskylä, the foundation work for new buildings at the Hippoksi Sports Center has unexpectedly forced university employees to evacuate their offices. The construction, which aims to create the largest sports facility in Finland and possibly the Nordic countries, has been delayed for years due to litigation but finally began in late 2025. This ambitious project has been marked by significant financial investment, amounting to hundreds of millions of euros.

The university's facilities manager, Timo Piispanen, stated that the levels of noise and vibration from the foundation work were a surprise to employees, acknowledging that while they were aware that such a large-scale construction would create some disturbances, the extent of the impact was greater than anticipated. As a result, some research activities from Jyväskylä University have had to be relocated to other facilities to ensure a conducive working environment for staff.

The construction at Hippoksi is essential not only for the development of sports and health science education at Jyväskylä University but also lays the groundwork for a significant recreational space in the region, which is expected to have benefits for both local communities and future students. However, the current challenges posed by construction noise highlight the difficulties that can occur in urban development projects, necessitating careful planning and communication with affected parties.