The new community center, which—once completed—will offer multipurpose spaces for local residents and visitors alike, is almost finished.
The Talas community center, whose construction began in early 2025, will soon open its doors. The building is largely complete, and the contractor is currently performing finishing work. In addition, the furnishing and equipping of the property are underway.
The facilities will be opened to users once the furnishing is largely complete. The estimated date for the facilities to become operational is early March.
Jari Paavilainen, CEO of Kalasataman Palveluyhtiöt, the client for the project, commented: “I am pleased that the Kalasatama area’s first community center is nearing completion and will soon be open to residents and others. The project was complex and challenging to carry out, but the end result is a new, impressive building in a central location in Helsinki.”
Details regarding usage are being finalized
The facilities will be available to residents of Kalasatama’s shareholder companies, but it will also be possible for others to rent them. The reservation system for the facilities is currently being tested and is expected to be available to users by the end of February.
Talas will initially be open to its users on weekdays from 8 a.m. to midnight and on weekends from noon to midnight. Opening hours will be adjusted as needed based on user feedback. Feedback is also requested regarding other aspects of the facility’s use. The opening hours of the community club’s restaurant will be announced separately.
Talas brings together residents of the area
Talas is a meeting place for local residents and provides a setting for leisure activities, sauna, work, meetings, and dining, among other things. After it opens, the space will host the “100 Stories from Kalasatama” project, in which local residents and historians are invited to share their perspectives on Kalasatama’s history, architecture, people, and events. Visitors can experience these stories within the space as they take shape.
The restaurant also plays an essential role in creating the venue’s atmosphere and offering a variety of ways to spend time. “Kalasatama needs a pleasant place where people can stop for a bite to eat or a drink—a living room for locals, from babies to grandparents,” says the restaurant’s head chef Kristian Vuojärvidescribes in a City of Helsinki news article.
The restaurant’s menu will be refined based on patrons’ preferences, but the fish soup—already hailed as the best in the city—is a sure highlight.
AOR Architects is responsible for the building’s architecture; the firm won the design competition in 2022. The name “Talas” refers to a boat shed.
More detailed information on Talas’s opening date, how to use the reservation system, and usage fees will be announced in the coming weeks on the Fisuverkko website.