The clean architectural design, combined with bright and comfortable spaces, creates a highly functional environment in Kerava Energia’s new headquarters. From the contractor’s perspective, the steel composite frame is quick and reliable to install.
Jatke Toimitilat Oy is constructing new headquarters for Keravan Energia near the Kerava railway yard. As the company’s existing premises have reached the end of their lifecycle, it has invested in new, modern facilities. The small plot adjacent to the railway has required meticulous planning and careful coordination of deliveries.
The new headquarters will comprise five floors, four dedicated to office use and the top floor housing the HVAC plant room. The building has a gross floor area of approximately 3,800 square metres. In addition to office space, the spacious premises will include a staff restaurant and a gym. Interior features such as wooden slat finishes and green walls further enhance comfort and well-being.
The project is aiming for LEED Gold certification, which has influenced both the design process and material choices. Flexibility has been incorporated from the outset, allowing the premises to be divided between two tenants in the future without significant structural modifications.
Architecture and Constructability in Harmony
Large windows on all sides of the building bring abundant natural light into the interior spaces. At the architect’s request, Peikko designed all visible ATLANT® composite columns within the same space using identical cross-sections. The slim columns are not only more aesthetically pleasing than thicker concrete columns but also leave greater freedom for space planning.
According to Jari Lehto of Ramboll, who was responsible for the structural design, the efficiency of the structure is based on an optimized column layout and spans of approximately 8.1 × 5.9 metres. Structural stability is provided by a concrete stairwell and elevator shaft integrated into the column-and-beam frame.
Lehto says that structural clarity was the guiding principle throughout the design process.
“The slim columns reduce the amount of floor space required, while DELTABEAM® Composite Beams enabled greater clear room height. With concrete beams, there would have been less space available for building services. This need for space was especially critical in corridor areas, but now users can enjoy bright and spacious hallways.”
The building façade will be clad with wooden panel elements supplied by Lapwall, supported from the second-floor slab. To facilitate installation, Peikko integrated wider-than-standard edge troughs into the beams already at the factory.
Rapid Frame Installation
Construction work on site began with foundation works in October 2025, when more than 180 reinforced concrete piles were driven into the clay soil. The frame rose exceptionally quickly, at a pace of approximately one floor per week. The frame installation, carried out by Asennuspalvelu Huuhka, took only four weeks in total.
The project is being executed as a fixed-price contract, but Jatke has actively influenced product procurement decisions. For example, WQ beams were replaced with Peikko’s DELTABEAM® Composite Beams.
Arttu Karjalainen, Site Manager at Jatke, praises Peikko’s contribution:
“Peikko is well known for its high quality, and despite the tight schedule, they have been able to deliver exactly what was needed. In addition, the solution is cost-effective and the project has remained within budget.”
A Challenging Schedule Successfully Maintained
The design was carried out using a shared Tekla model, primarily managed by Ramboll and Peikko. According to Karjalainen, the shared model worked very well and became a valuable site tool, as connections are easier to visualize in the model than from traditional drawings.
The project gained momentum quickly after the decision on Peikko’s deliveries was made at the end of 2025.
“The beginning was quite hectic because we had committed to a tight delivery schedule, and the Christmas holidays fell right in the middle of the design phase. Once things got started, however, the project progressed smoothly,” explains Jarno Backman, Project Manager at Peikko.
Both Karjalainen and Backman emphasize that the structural phase has proceeded without significant challenges and remains on schedule. The only notable difficulties were caused by severe winter temperatures at the beginning of the year, which required cast-in-place columns to be preheated before concreting. The columns and beams were equipped with heating cables to ensure proper performance in winter conditions.
According to Karjalainen, another advantage of Peikko’s solution is the reduced beam sizes and easier installation of building services compared to concrete beam structures. He also highlights the simplicity of installation:
“The steel frame has been a pleasure to work with because most of the connections are bolted. The amount of welding and reinforcement work is minimal, making installation much easier."
High-Quality Results Through Collaboration
Ramboll, Jatke and Peikko have collaborated on numerous projects over the years. Once again, the smooth progress of the project was driven by a proactive approach from all parties involved.
“Communication has been seamless and highly effective. Jarno has always been easy to reach, and we received answers to our questions quickly,” says Karjalainen.
Backman likewise commends the cooperation with both the designer and the construction site team.
“Collaboration with Ramboll worked very well, and matters progressed quickly on site. The use of the shared design model also streamlined the manufacturing process for Peikko’s columns and beams.”
Kerava Energy House is an excellent example of how close collaboration and technically efficient solutions support one another and lead to a high-quality end result. There was no need to compromise on architectural ambitions, and the benefits of the steel structure became evident during the construction phase: structural depths remained moderate, site logistics were efficient, and frame erection progressed rapidly. The facilities are scheduled to be completed and handed over to users by the end of the year.
