Construction of the Talas community center began in early 2025. A cornerstone-laying ceremony was held to mark the start of construction.
The community center, which will be available to the shareholder companies of Kalasatama’s service providers and their residents, community club will be built in 2025 near the waterfront at the corner of Koksikatu and Parrulaituri.
On January 28, a cornerstone-laying ceremony was held for the building, attended by representatives of the building’s client, developer, and general contractor. The purpose of this symbolic event is to bring good luck and durability to the building.
The Role of Service Companies
Martti Tallila, chairman of the board of Kalasataman Palvelu Oy and Kalasataman Palvelu 2 Oy—the building’s client—outlined in his remarks the history, purpose, and current situation of the service companies. The roots of the Kalasatama service companies trace back to the residential area built in Arabia and the 1990s. Providing a communal club space is part of the service companies’ service concept.
The groundbreaking ceremony was historic in nature. “Talas is the first community clubhouse building for service companies in the extensive Kalasatama residential area,” Tallila noted.
In the future, another community club building will be constructed in the Hermanninranta zoning area.
The Talas building reflects the history of the site
In 2022, AOR Arkkitehdit Oy was selected as the winner of the community clubhouse design competition with its “Talas” proposal. The name “Talas,” which refers to a boat shelter or canopy, has remained with the building to this day. According to Tallila, the name is fitting for a community clubhouse with a wooden structure and a gabled roof.
Marko Kähkönen , CEO of construction contractor Arkta Rakennuskultti Oy thanked the building’s client in his remarks for their trust in Arkta Rakennuskultti. According to him, the wooden building project is a wonderful undertaking at one of Helsinki’s landmark locations.
The cornerstone was laid in the northeast corner of the building, in accordance with tradition. In addition to Tallila and Kähkönen, the four masons who laid the cornerstone were Jari Paavilainen, CEO of Kalasataman Palvelu Oy and Kalasataman Palvelu 2 Oy. In addition to the “official” masons, those present were able to try their hand at laying the foundation stone under the guidance of the supervising master builder.
