Katajanokka Pier Wins RIL Award 2024
Published 28.11.2024
Katajanokka Pier has been chosen as the winner of the 2024 RIL Award. The architectural office and hotel destination is one of the most impressive creations in timber construction. Sweco served as structural designers and was also responsible for the production design of timber elements and steel structures.
The second place in the competition was shared by the world’s first final disposal facility for used nuclear fuel ONKALO® and renovation of the Myyrmäki Church. Sweco also served as structural and rock technical designers for the final disposal facility of used nuclear fuel.
The recipient of the RIL Award 2024 for Katajanokka Pier was selected by musician Sipe Santapukki. In his selection, he emphasized the building representing an impressive construction project at a challenging site. The decision was made from among three finalists.
”Katajanokka Pier has been innovatively and successfully implemented in one of Helsinki’s prime locations. The project has been managed professionally, transparently, and openly. Daily activities have been based on strong trust between the parties. The building has also successfully incorporated new technical details, a good example being the curved wooden beams of the atrium’s skylight.”
The RIL award-winning project combines architecture, sustainability, and collaboration
Long service life, adaptability, versatile usability, and low-carbon footprint make Finland’s largest massive timber building an exemplary project for future construction.
”The building’s sculptural form was a real challenge, even though all the project’s parties were particularly experienced timber construction experts. The acclaimed result was achieved through close cooperation between all parties,” summarises Sweco’s Business Director of Structural Design Antti Vilen.
The modern office building was completed in the summer of 2024 and also serves as the headquarters of Stora Enso. It was awarded an honorary mention and won the audience vote at the Finnish Tekla BIM Awards in June and was selected as the winner of the 2024 Wood Award in the autumn.
The competition results were announced at the RIL Summit in Helsinki on 28.11.2024. The RIL Association annually awards the RIL Award to a construction project, site, or concept that best represents high-quality, excellent, and innovative Finnish engineering skills and expertise. The awarded work or project has most effectively promoted positive technical and societal development in our country during the competition period. A total of 12 proposals participated in the RIL Award competition.