Tampere, Finland. The Nokia Arena is an ambitious architectural and urban development project that connects the eastern and western parts of the city via a complex elevated structure over the existing railway lines that currently divide Tampere.

Designed by Studio Libeskind, the project combines mixed-use functions, integrating entertainment, services, and residential spaces to create a unique urban living environment that brings people together in an international setting.

The Arena

The centerpiece of the project is Europe’s largest multifunctional arena, the first to achieve environmental certification, built directly above the existing railway and acting as a hub for diverse urban activities.

At the heart of the arena is a circular ice hockey rink with a 15,000 spectator capacity, one of the largest and most modern in Europe. It will serve as the home for Tampere’s Major League ice hockey teams, Ilves and Tappara.

The arena’s flexibility allows it to host concerts, shows, events, conferences, business and cultural meetings, congresses, and world-class exhibitions, attracting over 1 million visitors per year.

The structure occupies one-fifth of the overall site and will house a Veikkaus casino, commercial areas, conference rooms, offices, bars, restaurants, a wellness center, and a Lapland Hotel with 285 rooms.

The Hotel

Primarily serving the arena, the Lapland Hotel will feature 285 high-end rooms and a wide range of services, including a restaurant-bar for 350 guests and a convenience store.

The hotel will be closely connected to the arena: several rooms will have direct and exclusive access to the stands.

StercheleGroup has been commissioned to supply 274 bathroom pods for the hotel rooms, in 8 different types, with top-level finishes and equipped with saunas by SAUNATALO.

In this initial phase, StercheleGroup produced full-scale 1:1 prototype bathroom pods to allow designers and builders to verify requirements and make adjustments before full-scale production.

The Towers

The project also includes 5 towers adjacent to the arena, featuring an office podium topped with residential towers up to 100 meters high, totaling approximately 1,000 apartments. The towers will provide a typical Scandinavian living environment with access to services and public transport. Residents will enjoy winter gardens, rooftop terraces, and panoramic views of lush Tampere, a city surrounded by lakes and waterways.

Financing and Impact

The project is based on a public-private co-financing model, increasingly common in Scandinavian countries, which ensures greater resources and social benefits, including development, employment, and tax revenue.

This investment of over €50 million will create more than 1,000 jobs in Tampere and 2,000 across Finland, generate €131 million in state tax revenue during construction, and provide an additional €10 million annually for the city of Tampere once completed.

The main project promoter is SRV Construction Ltd, together with LocalTapiola and insurance and pension companies of the OP Financial Group, each holding equal shares.

The City of Tampere, together with investors, will develop the multifunctional arena, while investors alone will develop the other components (towers, hotel, offices, commercial spaces, and parking). Financial aspects are managed by Nordea, OP Tampere, Handelsbanken, and LocalTapiola (Enterprise Finance I Ky).

The entire project, including the Ranta-Tampella residential area, will be delivered in phases and completed by 2023.

The first step, Nokia Arena, will be completed by 2021 in two phases: the first includes construction of the southern railway bridge, the arena, a sports field, the hotel, and two towers; the second phase includes the northern bridge and three residential tower blocks.

Project Data

Hotel Designer: AIHIO Ark
Client: Nokia Arena

Building Dimensions:

• Arena: 48,000 sqm

• Buildings: 63,000 sqm