At the end of the year, 2017 the Port of Helsinki’s West Terminal 2 was awarded as Steel Structure of the year.
- The new terminal for passenger traffic to and from Estonia in Helsinki’s West Harbour is a new and impressive landmark for Jätkäsaari. The architecture of the sleek and dynamic building is reminiscent of ships and the movement of the sea. The sculptural and clearly defined building provides an excellent first impression to those arriving in Finland for the first time. The designers’ extensive experience in designing terminal buildings is reflected in a positive manner in the functional and architectural clarity of the building,” praised the award jury.
The lead designer of the terminal is Tuomas Silvennoinen from PES-Architects. In addition to PES-Architects, the award was presented to the client of the project, Port of Helsinki Ltd; structural designer Sweco; lead contractor YIT; and the supplier of the steel frame and the glass facades, Normek.
The Finnish Constructional Steelwork Association received a total of approximately 15 nominations, of which nine were approved for further review by the jury, chaired by architect Mikko Summanen from the Finnish Association of Architects. According to the rules of the award, the recipient must be an architecturally high-quality building project that has made use of both steel and other metals in an innovative manner during construction.
The jury was particularly impressed by how the building combines the high-quality stylishness of the overall structure with well-thought-out functionality. In addition to an efficient terminal, the client wanted to add a notable new landmark to the cityscape of Jätkäsaari and maritime Helsinki.
The new West Terminal 2 consists of the actual terminal building and two passenger corridors on either side, through which passengers can move between ships and the terminal.
“One particularly impressive feature is the departure lounge on the second floor, the central architectural element of which is the steel-trussed and wood-paneled curved ceiling,” the jury assessed.
Architecture has been a high priority in the project, and the aesthetic and geometric objectives of the project have been successfully achieved. One important aspect of this success was the close cooperation between the designers and the utilization of a building information model that combined the works of the different design disciplines.
“The building makes use of steel in structures where doing so makes architectural sense. The demanding geometry of the waiting hall has been achieved with a steel structure, allowing for long span lengths and a large space that is free of vertical structures. The secondary canopy structures, such as the taxi canopy of the entrance area, also serve as examples of expressive and successful steel architecture, the jury said.
The Steel Structure Award is an esteemed recognition among architecture and construction professionals, awarded annually by the Finnish Constructional Steelwork Association. It has been awarded to steel structures that promote and characterize the development of the industry since 1980.
Aource: Port of Helsinki
