A new head office of Tapiola-Group built in Tapiola, Espoo has been chosen as a Steel Construction prize winner of the year 2010. Finnmap Consulting Oy, with the person in charge – head of division Tapio Raunama - has been responsible for the structural design of this project. The Steel Construction prize can be awarded to a construction, in which the properties of steel have been utilized skillfully, is architecturally of a high level, is technically innovative and meets the functional demands of the present.

Four candidates proceeded to be evaluated by the jury. The board characterized all of them as high-level and excellent examples of the building and steel construction know-how in Finland. However, the head office of the Tapiola rose above other candidates in the opinion of the jury. The board justified its decision as follows:

“The big head office integrity has been performed in a controlled way. Properties of steel have been successfully used in the building when producing conversion flexible, efficient, cosy and spacious office wholeness. Special attention has been paid to the modifiability of the premises, as well as to its architectonic, structural and house technical solutions.”

According to the board, the building that is located in Southern Tapiola (Etelä-Tapiola), Espoo along Länsiväylä, continues the building tradition of Tapiola and adds to it its own distinctive and modern addition. The board also confirms that the environment and life circle have been also taken into consideration in the design and realization of the project.

The Steel Construction of the Year Award was affirmed 23.11.2010 to central persons of the building project in an annual ceremony of the Steel Construction Award in Helsinki. The Finnish Constructional Steelwork Association shares the award on the basis of proposal from a separate board of experts.

Recipients of the Steel Construction Award 2010:

Constructor: Kiinteistö-Tapiola Oy
Constructor consultant: Indepro Oy
Main and architectural design:
Architect bureau SARC Oy
Structural design: Finnmap Consulting Oy
Main contractor: YIT Rakennus Oy