The new school and sports hall were a real boost for Sicklaön

The new Ektorp School, built by Hemsö on behalf of Nacka Municipality, includes a preschool, a special needs primary school, a resource centre and classes from years F to 9. In total, nearly 800 children will spend their first ten years of schooling in what has been described as a hub for education in eastern Nacka.

“We believe and hope that the school will have a positive impact on both pupils and staff, as well as on the wider area. And that this will be reflected in future school elections,” says Åsa Kam Stoltz, Head of Administration for Welfare and Schools in the Skuru-Duvnäs school district.

The school opened for the autumn term of 2025, with a slightly more formal opening ceremony at the end of September. By then, pupils and staff had already had a chance to get a feel for the new Ektorp School.

“It’s wonderful to have a brand-new school,” sums up Ulrika Hjertzell, and together with Åsa Kam Stoltz, she lists the benefits.

Many benefits

A cohesive school from preschool to ninth grade. A well-equipped production kitchen to replace the old serving kitchen. A modern student café. Spacious areas, featuring upcycled art, for socialising. Modern classrooms for science, technology and art. Most of the classrooms are also L-shaped, at the teachers’ request, to facilitate group study.

The architecture features large windows that let in plenty of light and an open-plan layout that extends partly from the ground floor to the roof on the third floor. The latter gives the school a sense of space and airiness.

Good dialogue

When the old school was demolished, the worn-out sports hall disappeared too. Right from the start, the plan was to build a full-size sports hall to meet the school’s needs, but with facilities and equipment that would also suit Sicklaön’s diverse range of associations and cultural activities in the evenings.

– Throughout this process, we have held discussions internally within the council, but also on an ongoing basis with Hemsö. “The dialogue with them has been very good. Hemsö has been responsive, but has also come up with practical suggestions that have helped us avoid unnecessary mistakes,” says Anna Kristiansson, development manager at the culture and leisure department, and gives an example.

“The washbasins in the changing rooms mustn’t be too shallow. Otherwise, it’s impossible to fill water bottles without spilling and causing a mess. Just a small detail, but not an unimportant one.

The new hall has come at just the right time. Just as the sports hall in Ektorp was completed, the Nacka sports hall – home to Skuru’s elite women’s handball team – closed for renovation.

“For the time being, they’ll be based in Ektorp.” It works well because the new hall also has a spectator area,” says Elin Brandfalk, who is also a development manager at the Culture and Leisure Unit.

Favourite details

Both Anna and Elin feel that the new sports hall has a lovely retro feel, thanks to its design and choice of materials. They appreciate the overall package – a sturdy, flexible and functional sports hall that meets a wide range of needs from morning until late evening – but also love the little details that enhance the experience.

– In the hall, for example, there is furniture made from old plinths and chandeliers constructed from Roman rings. It’s absolutely perfect, says Anna Kristiansson.

Elin Brandfalk highlights the choice of materials and colour scheme in both the changing rooms and the main hall.