The aim is that the first parts of the Centre be completed in 2015 and the rest step by step by the year 2021.
The towers have 20 to 33 storeys and the highest of them rises to 126 metres. An extensive stretch of Itäväylä route and the metro line will be covered and greenery will be planted there. The green cover will serve as a courtyard to the residential buildings. The new Kalasatama Centre would be twice the size of Kamppi Centre.
‘’The proposal for Kalasatama central blocks is a unique solution that opens strongly towards the milieu. The eight towers form an integral composition enclosing the green cover to be built over Itäväylä route. Covering the route eliminates disturbance caused by traffic in a wide area in Kalasatama’’, says Project Manager Tuomas Hakala from the City Planning Department.
A health and social services station and owner-occupied housing units
The construction contract of the Centre was tendered as a public procurement through competitive dialogue.
‘’This is the first time for the City of Helsinki to apply competitive dialogue in this sort of a project’’, says Deputy Head of Division Jaakko Stauffer from the Real Estate Department.
The winner of the competition will build for the City’s possession considerable public premises in the Centre, as well as structures related to urban infrastructure such as bridges, streets, the extension of the metro station platform and 300 park and ride parking bays.
‘’Furthermore, the City will rent premises of 10 000 sqm for 20 years to serve as a health and social services station. The health station will serve mainly the areas of Vallila, Arabianranta, Hermanni, Sörnäinen and Kalasatama’’, says Hannu Asikainen, the Manager of Kalasatama Urban Project.
The new Kalasatama Centre will contain mainly owner-occupied accommodation for more than 2 000 people, and it will be the most focal urban project in Helsinki for the next few years. The building site will be so organized that there is no need for long-term cut-offs in the traffic on Itäväylä and the metro line.
The commercial services link with the services in the adjacent areas
The services and entertainment offerings of Kalasatama Centre will connect with the services of the adjacent areas.
‘’The shops, restaurants, a movie theatre and other leisure services have been planned on the street level and the three lowest floors. The major supermarkets will be placed below the street level’’, says SRV Vice CEO Timo Nieminen.
An area of commercial services has been planned in the Centre, serving the residents of the area as well as visitors and commuters. The higher stories will house shops and services related to interior decoration, home, fashion and leisure. There will also be a commercial exhibition and events area.
‘’Several restaurants will be built, such as Food Court area consisting of fast food restaurants and restaurants of different sizes and price levels will form a restaurant area. There will also be a fresh food market which will follow the international concept of a market hall of the 2010’s. However, the fresh market will not compete with the nearby Helsinki City Wholesale Market’, Mr. Nieminen says.
SRV Group has experience in corresponding projects. The Group constructed Kamppi Centre in 2002-2006. For Kalasatama Centre the Group developed a bridge solution which enables extensive housing construction in the whole block. ‘’SRV Group successfully combined extensive housing production and a new commercial concept suited to Kalasatama Centre’’, says Hannu Asikainen.
The City Council will discuss the matter later this spring - when realized, the project will earn 65
million euro to the City
On the basis of idea plans, the City Board selected last March from among six entries three for further negotiations, that is, SRV Group, Citycon and Skanska. After eight months’ negotiations, SRV Group was the only one of the three to submit a bid. It is proposed that SRV Group get the contract to construct Kalasatama Centre. The Real Estate Committee will discuss the proposal on March 22, 2011, and the City Council will make the final decision in April – May at the earliest. A town plan change shall also be obtained for the project.
As a whole, the SRV Group bid is profitable to the City. Once completed, the project will win 65 million euro to the City. The City will receive almost 115 million euro from SRV Group for the project sites and permanent rights of use. The City will pay SRV some 50 million euro for the public parts of Kalasatama Centre that will become the City’s possession.
An exhibition on the Centre is being prepared
According to a preliminary schedule, an exhibition presenting Kalasatama Centre will be on display in Laituri info and expo room on May 25–June 18.
