A new start in the centre of Helsinki – this is how Solita built an office that brings people together
Spacious and airy premises and open city views welcome the visitor to Solita’s new office in Helsinki. Underneath the spectacular surface is a carefully designed entity that brings the organisation together, supports hybrid work and makes day-to-day work run smoothly.
Founded in Tampere in 1996, Solita is a technology company that has quickly grown from a local operator to a Nordic expert. As a result of this growth, the company’s requirements have also changed, and the old office was no longer able to meet them. The office, which was dispersed over several floors, did not support spontaneous collaboration, and some of the spaces were underutilised. The situation raised an essential question: what kind of work environment really supports modern expert work and the needs of a growing organisation?
“Our old lease expired in August last year, and that’s when we started considering things. We do a lot of hybrid work, and the old premises no longer served this purpose. We were spread across three floors, and at times differences between the floors were really significant. The utilisation rate of office workstations was low, and entire areas were often underused,” says Noora Puulasto, Solita’s Facility and Workspace Manager.
A fresh start in brand new premises
The company first assessed whether the old office could be developed to meet the changed needs. However, this would have required extensive renovation, as well as the addition of new types of workspaces. It was decided that the best solution was completely new facilities, where location, space solutions and functionality better support the day-to-day life of both employees and customers.
From the outset, the search for new premises was limited to the centre of Helsinki, due to its good accessibility. The goal was to find a location that was easily reachable by public transport, preferably very close to the railway station. In addition, the layout needed to be adaptable and offer the capacity to have all employees mainly on the same floor.
“This criterion quickly proved to be a limiting factor, as there are only a limited number of large, contiguous spaces available in the city centre. For us, central location was non-negotiable. We want it to be easy to get to the office, both for employees and customers. We encourage our staff to use public transport, so accessibility is more important to us than, for example, the number of parking spaces,” says Puulasto.
Encounters have increased and there is a good buzz around the office
Solita has grown rapidly in recent years, and as a result, the company now has new offices also in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Poland and Belgium. Therefore, the company considered it important to have a new start together, in terms of the premises and a sense of community.
“The idea of a new beginning seemed natural. Being on separate floors reduced encounters during the workday and divided people into groups based on the floor they worked on. We wanted to bring everyone into the same space, increase interaction, and strengthen the sense of community. The new space provided an opportunity to start with a clean slate.”
In the end, Citycenter’s office space was selected on the strength of its central location and adaptability. Solita was impressed by the more than 2,200 square metres of contiguous space with expansive views, and the decision on the new premises was practically unanimous.
Relocation to a single floor increased encounters in day-to-day work
The use of space and different working methods were carefully considered to ensure that the premises as a whole supported day-to-day work as well as possible. The new office supports different ways of working: instead of designated workstations the premises house a flexible working environment that adapts to changing situations. The space is organised in a clear yet flexible manner. The premises are arranged into open areas and rooms suited to work requiring more concentration and meeting facilities.
Modern and ergonomic furnishings enable effective work, and the floor designed specifically for Solita encourages encounters and supports concentration. The break rooms promote natural encounters and discussions and the shared spaces invite employees to pause for a while. While working methods at Solita have not changed significantly since the move, the new premises support them better.
“Different units have their own areas that make it easier to encounter colleagues, but the choice of workstation is completely free. To support different work situations, the office also houses teamwork rooms, quiet spaces and customer spaces, which can be reserved. Making predictions is not simple. Also, with hybrid work, we cannot be completely certain about how many of us will be present at the office. Therefore, a balance between efficiency and flexibility had to be found in the design,” Puulasto says.
After relocation, the utilisation rate has increased
In the hybrid working model, not everyone is expected to be in the office at the same time.
“Workstations are complemented by phone booths, quiet spaces, conference rooms and seating areas that support flexible working. Our Helsinki office employs over 500 people. In addition, people from our other offices also visit and work in the office regularly. With the move, occupancy rates have increased compared to our previous office, and various spaces are now being utilised efficiently,” says Puulasto.
After relocation, the utilisation rate has increased. According to Puulasto, this is evident as a good “buzz” and a higher number of people in the workplace. This is a huge change compared to the previous, quieter premises, and makes coming to the office more attractive. Ultimately, the main change compared to the previous office is related to people and encounters.
“The office now has a steady flow of people, and the atmosphere is more lively than before. The single-floor layout has boosted visibility and encounters, and spontaneous, extempore discussions and brainstorming have clearly increased. At the same time, coming to the office feels more meaningful, as there is an active and vibrant work community around. The office now has more energy and interaction, and people are encountering each other much more often than before. Since the move, feedback has been very positive and we feel that this solution was the right one.”
Variety of services in Citycenter
According to Puulasto, Solita’s office complex serves the needs of day-to-day life well. The location is central, which makes getting from one place to another easier as all amenities are close, and the office can be reached by metro, for example, via an indoor route without the need to get wet on rainy days. People have been particularly happy about the number of restaurants and other services nearby.
“Employees have been enthusiastic about the new premises. The shopping centre’s lunch spots, services and sports facilities, located a lift ride away, make everyone’s day-to-day life that little bit easier. Particularly on days when there is snow or sleet, it is a relief that the office can be reached from the metro station without the need to venture outdoors. Cyclists are also exceptionally well catered for in the building; it is equipped with bike storage facilities, washing and repair stations, and separate changing rooms and drying facilities. All that encourages people to be physically active and enables cycling also in the winter.”
All of our experts are now working in a completely renovated work environment tailored to our needs
Systematic planning enabled a successful result
The new office has met the goals set for it – the use of the space has become more efficient, day-to-day work runs more smoothly and the sense of community has strengthened. The implementation of the project also proceeded quickly and systematically. The design was carried out meticulously, and the spatial solutions were defined in detail already at the initial stage. From the outset, collaboration with Sponda was seamless and goal-oriented: wishes were taken into account and plans were thoroughly reviewed.
Sustainability was a key part of the implementation: about 90% of Solita’s old furniture was reused, and materials were actively recycled. Puulasto praises the design agency FYRA, which was involved in the office space’s interior design project from start to finish.
“The project was completed in about eight months, even though we started from a raw concrete surface. Staying on schedule was a major success in a project of this scale. It is also essential for us to act in accordance with our own sustainability objectives and certifications, and the business premises must support these objectives. Our values gelled well with those of Sponda, and recycling and other sustainable practices were taken into account in all aspects of the premises and the building.”
According to Puulasto, the customer experience has clearly improved with the new location and well-functioning premises, and more visitors now come to the office than before. This also attests to the attractiveness of the office.