Leijona Tower design unveiled

ALA and developer Harry Harkimo unveiled "Leijonatorni", their venture for a new 30-plus storey tower in Helsinki. The project is a combined apartment-, office-, and sports center -complex. ALA, joined by engineers from Arup, have been working through 2011 on the design for this 150M€ project that would be the tallest building in Helsinki yet.

The project is a 50.000 square meter development with a landmark tower and a lower podium part containing the sports center. The tower consists of office program in the lower floors, within a compact facade envelope. The amount of exterior wall surface increases towards the highest floors of the tower, resulting to maximum daylight and views for the housing program.

Named after the Finnish ice-hockey national team, Leijonatorni is an infill building with substancial ideas on how to improve sustainability of its site. The project location is Pasila, the planned high-rise center of Helsinki. The procedures for adjusting the city plan for the project are ongoing, with scheduled completion next year. The initial goal is to start construction in 2013 with completion due before the end of 2015.