Over the past year, numerous streets and infrastructure projects, a new tram route, and residential construction were completed in the Kalasatama area.
This year, significant progress was made on infrastructure and ongoing long-term projects in the area. Despite the challenging overall situation, residential construction remained active in the area.
“Construction of more than 1,000 apartments was launched in Kalasatama, which is a large number by the City of Helsinki’s standards,” states Miikka Hakari,Project Manager for the Kalasatama area at the City of Helsinki Executive Office. He notes that there has been some caution in the construction of privately financed housing.
Housing construction and the development of public spaces
The first residents will move into the new Nihti residential area at the southern tip of Kalasatama in 2024, when five new buildings will be completed and construction of additional buildings will also begin. Residential construction is currently most active in the northern part of Verkkosaari.
The Visio high-rise, consisting of residential units, will be completed on the roof of Redi in December 2023, and residents will move in at the beginning of 2024. The Horisontti office complex, currently under construction, will be completed in 2025.
Major infrastructure projects are constantly underway in the area, Hakari says. Construction of the Kalasatama–Pasila tram line is continuing, and upon completion, it will run north-south from Nihdi along Hermanninranta Road all the way to Pasila. Tram service will begin in the fall of 2024.
The Hermanninranta zoning plan is legally binding, and its streets and preliminary construction are currently being planned. Construction of the area’s housing, school, and daycare center is scheduled to begin in 2026.
Construction of the Kruunusillat project, which connects to Laajasalo, also progressed this year. Tram service and the bridges will be put into operation in 2027.
New services for the area
The range of services in the area will expand in the coming years. Kalasatama’s second school will be located in Hermanninranta, the Sompasaari daycare center will begin operations in January–February 2024, and the Nihti daycare center is scheduled to open in early 2025.
Kalasatama residents will gain access to their own library, which will be officially opened on January 15, 2024, at the Red shopping center.
“Construction has begun on more than 1,000 apartments in Kalasatama, which is a large number by the City of Helsinki’s standards.”
— Miikka Hakari, Project Manager for the Kalasatama area, City of Helsinki Executive Office
The development of the Suvilahti event area has been delayed due to appeals filed against the zoning plan. Among other things, the Suvilahti Event Hub will be built in the area, featuring an event space of 50,000 km2 including spaces for events, film and TV production, offices, hotels, and restaurants. The development of the area is part of Helsinki’s city strategy to transform Suvilahti into an experiential hub with a strong focus on culture and leisure. Construction in the area will begin no earlier than late 2024.
In September 2023, it was announced two new environmental art installations for Sompasaari as part of an art competition organized by the city in 2016. One is located in the Aallonhalkoja Street plaza and the other in Loviseholminpuisto Park, whose new structures will be completed in the summer of 2024.
Kalasataman palvelu 2 Oy’s last shared courtyard in Sompasaari was completed in 2023. The design of the communal club space, which will be owned by the service companies and available for residents’ use, is underway, and construction is scheduled to begin in 2024. AOR Arkkitehdit Oy is responsible for the design of the space, which will be located at the southern corner of Kalasatama Park, at the intersection of Koksikatu and Parrulaituri.