Tanssin talo construction project reached an end point on 25 November 2021, when the construction site was handed over to the customer, Kiinteistö Oy Kaapelitalo. Finishing work will continue into 2022. 

The construction project has been managed by the project manager Reima Luodemäki from Haahtela Ltd, and the design has been carried out in cooperation with JKMM Arkkitehdit Oy and ILO Arkkitehdit Oy, Teemu Kurkela as the head designer and Pia Ilonen as the main architectural designer.

- It’s fantastic that the construction project is now ready! Even after an appeal against the municipality’s decision we managed to keep the schedule, and Tanssin talo will open as planned at the start of 2022. The project cost 42 million euros, which is just 5 % over the estimated budget. Fortunately we were able to hedge against the worst price spikes caused by Covid, says Kiinteistö Oy Kaapelitalo’s CEO Kai Huotari with satisfaction.

Of the in total 6,800-square meter project’s financing, €15m came from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, €9.95m from the City of Helsinki and €7.25m from the government. The Cable Factory will cover the budget overshoot of €2m, taking the company’s financing share to around €10m. 

- In order to justify such a large investment in the project we wanted to make sure that the end result serves all the users of the Cable Factory, Huotari adds.

Tenants and visitors were involved in the planning right from the start

For Kiinteistö Oy Kaapelitalo, it was fundamental to involve cultural and artistic tenants as well as visitors in the planning right from the word go. Based on their feedback, the 30-year-old cultural centre has been substantially overhauled during the Tanssin talo construction project.

In January, a new covered lobby, the Glass Courtyard, will open in the Cable Factory’s inner courtyard. Inside there is an info point, ticket sales and Tehtaanmyymälä (factory shop), which is also the entrance to the three museums in the Cable Factory. Later on, visitors will also be able to access the rest of the cultural centre via a cellar ramp from the Glass Courtyard.

- At 10 m high, 16 m wide and 50 m long, the Glass Courtyard is a unique space in Helsinki. We hope that various installations and art projects can also be accomplished there, Kai Huotari says.

The Cable Factory’s logistics have also been improved, with the building’s loading routes moved to the perimeter of the building and internal access routes opened up within the building. The usability of the Cable Factory’s event spaces and tenant access have been significantly improved.

During the project the company has also overhauled the Cable Factory brand and visual image, refreshed its website and opened Cable Factory’s Konttori as a café, shop and event space for tenants and visitors.

Construction project altered the company’s operating philosophy

The construction project has fundamentally altered the entire operating philosophy of Kiinteistö Oy Kaapelitalo.

- For the first 25 years, the Cable Factory was a pure business-to-business firm. During this process we have understood that in order to serve our tenants even better we also need a deeper understanding of their customers – the Cable Factory’s visitors. For that reason the Cable Factory has now consciously taken on greater responsibility for the visitor experience. We have also understood that we constantly need to undergo renewal and update our operating models to meet current challenges.

The same lessons will also be applied to the company’s other cultural centres in Suvilahti and N10.

In future the Cable Factory will be developed as an ongoing process based on regular tenant and visitor surveys, whilst ensuring responsibility and our sustainable development objectives. During 2022, the signposting in the building will be renewed, the Turbiinisali will be renovated, accessibilty will be improved and usage of renewable forms of energy will be increased, among other things. 

- At the Cable Factory, we are building a better life for people in Helsinki through culture, Huotari summarises.

More information: Kai Huotari, Managing director, Kiinteistö Oy Kaapelitalo, kai.huotari(at)kaapelitehdas.fi, tel. +358 50 384 1557

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You can come and see the revamped Cable Factory from 5 January 2022, when the new Glass Courtyard main entrance (Kaapeliaukio 3) opens as part of the LUX Helsinki festival. Ville MJ Hyvönen’s work Fragments will be on display in the Glass Courtyard from 5-9 January 2022. Eetu Huhtala’s interactive light art work Toinen will also be on display in Tanssin talo’s lobby, and will be a permanent feature in the building.

The opening ceremony for Tanssin talo will be on 2 January 2022.

Read more about the background of the construction project: www.tanssintalorakentuu.fi

Photo: Daniel Torsell, Eficic Oy