Kamppi Center reaches its full height

Work continues on biggest construction site in Helsinki

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The new commercial and residential centre in Kamppi reached its full height at 40 metres above sea level on Friday, when construction workers fitted in a steel frame for the central atrium skylight of the building.
      A crane was used to hoist in place the roundish structure that is ten metres in diameter.
      The six-ton steel skeleton will later receive a glass cladding of equal weight.
      Once completed, the skylight will provide all six levels of the shopping centre with a flow of natural light.
      This week the fitting of the building's exterior wall elements will commence. The facade will consist of varied materials such as patterned glass, stonework, metal, brick, and wood.
     
The Kamppi commercial centre will provide 35,000 square metres of floor space to its 120 resident businesses. Contracts have already been signed with 80 of them.
      The Kamppi Center will also house the Espoo bus terminal, a market hall complete with an educational kitchen where chefs initiate Helsinki residents into the fine art of cooking, and a residential area.
      The first two floors of the main shopping mall concentrate on fashion, the third floor provides for children's needs, the fourth floor caters for sports, and the top floor is to be reserved for youth items.
      In 2006 a nightclub will open in the penthouse premises, with a roof terrace overlooking the western skyline of Helsinki.
      The Kamppi Center's total construction budget is in the region of EUR 300 million, and work should be complete by spring 2006, some four years after this area of downtown Helsinki became a huge building site.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Start of Kamppi Center construction brings rush-hour chaos to central Helsinki (13.8.2002)
  Kamppi Center construction project begins in central Helsinki (18.6.2002)
  Kamppi Center will be finished six months ahead of schedule (15.10.2003)

See also:
  Flash animation of Kamppi Project (in Finnish)

Links:
  Kamppi Center

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