Mammoet has completed the safe and successful relocation of the iconic Kiruna Church, one of Sweden’s most treasured architectural landmarks. The two-day operation, which concluded on August 20, marks a historic moment for the town of Kiruna and showcases the precision of modern engineering and collaboration.
Built in the early 20th century and once voted Sweden’s most beautiful building, Kiruna Church is one of the country’s largest wooden structures. Its relocation became necessary due to the expansion of LKAB’s Kiruna mine, which required several buildings to be moved to a newly developed city centre five kilometres away.
Commissioned by civil engineering firm Veidekke and LKAB, Mammoet was tasked with transporting the 713-tonne wooden church in a single piece. The project demanded over 1,000 hours of meticulous planning and engineering. The move, dubbed “The Great Church Walk”, drew thousands of spectators, including the King of Sweden, and was carried out with exceptional care to preserve the integrity of the fragile structure.
To guarantee the building’s safety, Mammoet worked closely with Veidekke and Swedish wood engineering specialists to model and test the church’s response to lifting and transport. August was chosen for the operation to avoid adverse weather conditions that could have jeopardised the move.
The church was raised to a height of 1.3 metres and placed on steel beams supported by two trains of 28 axle lines of Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs). A custom monitoring system developed by Mammoet ensured stability throughout the journey, allowing for a maximum tilt of just 7.5 cm between sides.
The route was carefully prepared with temporary road widening and compacting work. Mammoet advised on these civil works and conducted road tests using SPMTs loaded with counterweights to simulate the church’s axle load.
The relocation took place during daylight hours on August 19 and 20, with the church arriving safely at its new location. Once in place, the SPMTs lowered the structure onto its new concrete foundations—completing a move that will be remembered for generations.
In the coming days, Mammoet will also relocate the church’s 90-tonne belfry using a different SPMT configuration, further ensuring Kiruna’s cultural heritage remains intact.
“This project exemplifies the importance of detailed engineering and planning in executing unique and meaningful moves,” said William Soeters, Project Manager at Mammoet. “We’re proud to have played a key role in safeguarding this historic building for future generations.”