Sponda lays foundation stone for its new Signe development at the Mannerheimintie 14 site

Construction of the new project began in November 2023 and is scheduled to complete at the end of 2026. Designed to the highest environmental standards, Signe aims to attract new businesses and services to the centre of Helsinki.  

“The Signe building rising along Mannerheimintie is an example that, despite the critical discussions about the center of Helsinki, people want to and should invest here. This building is a significant part of a vibrant city center. It is very rare for a new building to rise in such a central location – this is therefore a moment worth celebrating!", said Mayor Juhana Vartiainen in his speech 

“We made history today by laying the foundation stone for the unique Signe building in the heart of Helsinki. This is a significant milestone in our project, which represents a substantial investment in the development of the city centre. The block will undergo a remarkable transformation when Signe, becomes part of the cityscape. The building meets the growing demand for sustainable, adaptable, and high-quality office spaces in the city centre and offers companies a modern and inspiring work environment that can support collaboration and strengthen their corporate culture,” says Sponda's CEO Christian Hohenthal. 

Currently, Signe is 50% preleased. The anchor tenant for Signe is the consulting and auditing company PwC Finland, which is relocating to the centre of Helsinki. When choosing its new premises, PwC emphasised the need for sustainable design, high-quality features and amenities, as well as a central location. The company’s new space has also been designed to support the diverse working needs and habits of its employees.  

“From the tenant's perspective, the project has progressed very well. Our internal team, external consultants involved in the project, and the responsible persons on the developer's side maintain regular contact and each ensure that the planning and construction proceed on schedule. PwC's staff have been able to influence the design from the beginning, and as the moving day approaches, we take into account the needs of our various businesses and different people more precisely. It is of utmost importance to us that the new premises are perceived as energizing and supportive of work and human interaction," summarizes PwC's COO Kati Tammilehto. 

Signe is developed in accordance with sustainability and the highest quality standards  

The Signe project represents a significant investment in the centre of Helsinki, where the demand for high-quality office and business premises is growing. With the new building, one of the most central blocks in Helsinki will experience a major transformation. At the same time, the cityscape at the corner of Mannerheimintie and Kalevankatu will be more harmonised, as the new building follows the rhythm and height of the facades of neighbouring buildings. The open ground floor is higher than before and will house vibrant business and restaurant facilities. 

The new building is designed to low carbon, with the building’s material emissions per square metre (kgCO2e/n-m2) being31% lower compared to conventional office construction.  

Upon completion, Signe will be one of the city centre's most energy-efficient buildings, aiming for the highest sustainability standards. This includes LEED Platinum-level environmental certification, EPC A energy efficiency rating and Gold-level WELL certification, which recognises that the working environment also supports the wellbeing of employees.  

Sponda actively invests in the development and improvement of the quality of its properties, especially in the centre of Helsinki and the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The company has approximately ten major real estate development projects underway and in planning in central Helsinki.  

Signe in brief:  

• Number of storeys 8  

• Total leasable area 16,980 m²  

• Office space 12,614 m²  

• Commercial space 4,366 m²