The international invitational competition for a new office and commercial building at the shore of Katajanokka, was organised by the Finnish Association of Architects SAFA in 2020. The building will serve as the new headquarters of the Stora Enso forestry products company and as a luxury hotel for the S Group. 

The Finnish architecture firm Anttinen Oiva Architects was the winner of the entry. According to their proposal the idea was to use plenty of wood in the four-floor building with a clear appearance and smooth lines. A special two-layer solution was selected for the building’s façade: the outer layer is made of glass, metal and natural stone, and behind it, wood is the dominant material. 

Nordic features as well as visible wood structures have been key starting-points of the project. The visible structures comprise cross laminated timber (CLT) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), of which almost 3,000 wooden elements are made. In all, the building will consist of about 7,500 m3 of wood. The aim is that the building will serve as a tour de force of new-generation Finnish wood construction.

Due to its location by the sea, the building must be protected by a flood barrier while preparations are also made to raise the public areas of the entire Eteläsatama harbour area above the flooding level.

The estimated completion of the building will be in 2024.