Details
Satama Areena event centre is a landmark in Kotka’s Kantasatama harbour district, bringing people together for concerts, events and other occasions. SRV delivered the adaptable building, whose most striking feature is the largest suspended wooden roof in the Nordic countries.
Satama Areena was completed in 2023 in the heart of Kotka’s Kantasatama harbour district. With a capacity of more than 3,000 people, the event centre serves both event organisers and visitors. The building provides a new gathering place in Kotka’s maritime setting, with spaces designed for a wide range of events, concerts and other occasions.
“The event centre brings new energy, expertise and appeal to the region. It is a significant building for the region and well worth seeing and experiencing,” says Tiina Salonen, Acting CEO of Satama Areena.
A distinctive curved roof
The adaptable spaces give event organisers flexibility. The approximately 7,700 m² GFA building is designed to accommodate different events, audiences and uses.
Satama Areena is recognisable by its curved roof and zinc-clad exterior. Inside, wood creates the atmosphere: the building’s frame and much of its interior surfaces are made of wood. The arena’s most striking structure is the largest suspended wooden roof in the Nordic countries.
“This is an architectural and technical achievement that all parties involved in the project can be proud of,” says Kimmo Hyry, Unit Director at SRV.
Impressive wood construction
During the construction of Satama Areena, we paid particular attention to ecological and lifecycle-wise solutions. The building uses geothermal heating, and 600 square metres of green roof have been installed to help manage stormwater and support biodiversity.
The wood construction products used in Satama Areena were manufactured from Nordic PEFC-certified spruce. The approximately 1,400 cubic metres of wood used in the load-bearing structures are estimated to store around 970 tonnes more carbon dioxide than is emitted during their production.
The timber frame is covered with Rheinzink façade cladding, which is maintenance-free for 100 years and develops a natural darker patina as it ages.
An arena built together
Although the harbour conditions and the building’s architecture made the project demanding, Satama Areena was completed on schedule after almost two years of construction. This was achieved through close cooperation with the client, developer, designers and user.
The project was carried out in cooperation with the developer Backstaff Oy. Clear objectives and open communication kept the project under control through to completion.
“Working with SRV has been smooth and constructive. As the developer, we have been able to trust that the outcome would be of high quality and in line with the client’s wishes, while remaining within the project’s overall budget,” says Aleksi Sallinen, Project Manager at Backstaff Oy.
When you build, build wisely
SRV helps you take your project from idea to completion. By listening to our customers, we build spaces where functionality, costs and sustainability are balanced throughout the building’s entire life cycle.
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Satama Areena
