Katajanokan Laituri is a remarkable 23,000 m² mass timber building, the largest of its kind in Finland and a new low-carbon marvel capturing attention across the architectural world.

Architectural vision

The original vision of the owner, Varma, and the anchor tenant, Stora Enso, was to let the most resource-efficient methods and materials shape the building's design and construction. The result is a landmark in low-carbon construction.

The design is strongly rooted in the location and its history, but at the same time, it looks to the future. "Wooden construction can be applied to create, in a demanding, protected urban setting, an environment that is sustainable, human, flexible during its lifecycle and that enriches with both its architecture and its functionality,” says Selina Anttinen, architect SAFA, from Anttinen Oiva Arkkitehdit Oy.

Low-carbon materials

The structural frame consists of more than 2,000 bespoke load-bearing wooden elements. Together they could fill three Olympic swimming pools (7,630 m³). Each individual piece was manufactured with millimeter precision and delivered as a kit of parts - Sylva™ by Stora Enso.

Even the window fixtures are sustainable. The 700 windows which offer gorgeous natural light and biophilic effect weigh 210 tonnes and are supported by just 97 m³ of incredibly strong engineered wood: Effex® Dura.

Building at scale on-time

From the ground to the finish, including the façade, everything was completed in just seven months and perfectly on schedule. The entire frame schedule was accurate within two days. The Sylva prefabricated kit of parts was delivered using 171 just-in-time deliveries which greatly reduced the need for storage and on-site labour.

The timber framing started in March 2023, and the rooftop height was reached in October 2023.

 "Stora Enso is incredibly proud of this project. In our mind, no one else could have delivered such an extremely complex build in such a short time frame." said Antto Kauhanen, for Stora Enso.

Read more about the building here

Learn more about the materials used here

Our project has been guided from the start by a commitment to minimise climate impacts and demonstrate the remarkable possibilities of wooden construction. Compared with a concrete-based building, specifying wood for the structure resulted in an impressive 35% reduction in before use greenhouse gases. On top of having lower carbon footprint than concrete, wood also stores carbon. No other commercially available building material can do that.

This isn't just about today—the mixed-use building concept ensures the building can adapt to future needs, reinforcing a sustainable approach to urban development and construction. The wooden elements used in the construction captured 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) during the trees' growth and are now storing it in the building for at least the next 100 years. This is remarkable when we consider it will take the next 50 years heating and cooling the building and other operational activities to produce the same amount of CO₂ emissions. 

In addition to its sustainability benefits, the building’s biophilic design—a concept that integrates architecture and materials to foster a closer connection to nature—includes green roofs and an outdoor forest. These natural elements, combined with the use of organic materials and thoughtfully designed lighting inside, create an environment that enhances well-being and fosters a sense of harmony for all who visit this remarkable space

With its mass timber structure, Katajanokan Laituri is designed to reach the highest level of LEED certification – LEED Platinum status.

Katajanokan Laituri is more than a building; it’s a cultural hub and a living testament to the power of sustainable architecture. It is designed as a multi-sensory experience, with nature at its core.

A celebration of nature and renewal

In the Stora Enso lobby, you’ll find an iconic circular bench which is the embodiment of the continuous cycle of renewable material and magnifies the true potential of wood. The Stora Enso story and history is told through this original piece of art themed “Hidden Treasures”.

Forged and fashioned from the forest

Made with LVL from our mill in Varkaus, sourced from the tough and densely grown spruce of the Savo region’s forests, and designed by Anttinen Oiva Arkkitehdit, the bench has further come to life in the hands of Finnish craftmanship and an artistic vision of what we, Stora Enso, promise and create.

Glass pieces atop the massive wooden bench integrate copper, forest, wood chips, lignin, NeoLigno, wood foam (Papira), and TreeToTextile fibers, to convey our transformation and evolution, our heritage from mining and forestry to the infinite possibilities of renewable materials.

Reflections of our constant transition

The bench and glass pieces are a moving manifestation of Stora Enso’s resilience and adaptability to change. Literally. With each step you take around the bench, the reflections in the glass pieces change, one moment a reflection of the dome ceiling, another of a person standing next to you, or another of beaming light.

The artist and glass blowing studios

BAIBAGLASS- Art | Design in glass

LASISMI- Glass art and custom glass blowing studio. Part of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage for knowledge, craft and skills of handmade glass production

GLASREMIS-Handmade glass art and bespoke designs

LIVANI- Artistic and functional glassware producer