Supercell office building

Wood construction is becoming increasingly common, and SRV has gained extensive expertise in the field through several projects. The Supercell office, however, stood out due to its scale: upon completion, it was Finland’s largest wood-structured office building in terms of the volume of wood used. The building comprises eight floors of office space, a basement, and a three-storey car park. The first floor, basement, and lift and stair shafts are constructed in concrete, while floors two to eight are made of wood.

Collaborative methods at the heart of design

Supercell’s corporate culture encourages self-directed teams and minimal hierarchy, a mindset that was also applied on the construction site. Open communication and co-creation were the cornerstones of the project’s successful implementation.

Open collaboration as the key to success

Supercell considered it important to be actively involved in the business premises construction project, even on a daily basis. For SRV, this approach was a perfect fit: the more a client shares their needs with us, the better we can listen and deliver solutions tailored precisely to them, as was the case with this project. Open dialogue and a bold, proactive attitude proved to be key factors in its success.

“With SRV, we immediately found a great sense of team spirit. SRV’s own staff radiated openness, a can-do attitude, and exactly the mindset we were looking for. Our collaboration was particularly successful. From the very beginning, when everyone started pulling together, we saw how fruitful that was for the overall success of the project,” says Janne Saarinen, Facility Manager at Supercell.

Environmental certification crowned the project

The LEED Platinum certification awarded to the wood-structured building is a testament to the successful implementation of sustainable solutions. As in this office project, an increasing number of SRV’s developments incorporate lifecycle-smart solutions.

At Supercell’s office, lifecycle-wise thinking is particularly reflected in the use of wood as a building material. The structural frame was made from Finnish LVL laminated veneer lumber supplied by Stora Enso’s factory in Varkaus. Wood is the only fully renewable and recyclable construction material that stores carbon and thereby helps to mitigate climate change. The carbon footprint of the wood-structured building is significantly smaller than that of a comparable concrete structure. The amount of wood used in the building stores carbon dioxide equivalent to the annual emissions of 600 passenger cars.

Lifecycle-smart thinking is also reflected in the building’s energy solutions. The office has been designed for high energy efficiency, utilising renewable energy through solar panels installed on the roof. Nearly one-third of the parking spaces in the car park are equipped with charging points for electric vehicles.

Creating the best possible working environment for Supercell employees

Supercell’s high standards, combined with SRV’s strong expertise in business premises construction, gave the project a reputation as a pioneer in its field. As only the best was good enough for the client, the project’s objectives were set at an exceptionally high level.

Supercell’s brand exudes quality, and the same level of excellence was required for its new office — combining top-tier quality with flexible adaptability. This flexibility was essential, as the composition of Supercell’s teams changes depending on the stage of game development. Thanks to the modular office layout, the size of team spaces can be easily adjusted as needed.

In January 2021, around 200 Supercell employees moved into their new premises. Based on the feedback received so far, they have been highly satisfied with their new workplace. Feedback from end users is important to us, as it helps us understand how well we have succeeded. The ambitious goals of the construction project were met as intended: we built the world’s best workplace for the world’s best game developers.