Merikannontie 5 is a residential conversion project in Töölö, Helsinki, Finland, involving the renovation of an eight-storey former office building into 146 apartments. Skanska and Auratum Asunnot Helsinki Oy agreed to carry out the project, with a contract value of approximately €50 million.
The building had housed Finnish public broadcaster Yleisradio until the 1990s, when it was known as Kesäkatu 2. The project retains the building’s exterior appearance while completely renewing its interior; the residential company was to be named As. Oy Töölön Kesäkatu.
Auratum had already commissioned demolition work when Skanska announced that its construction contract would begin in September. The project was scheduled for completion in late 2022. The announcement does not state a founding date for the project; it describes a construction and redevelopment undertaking rather than a separately founded organisation.
Apartment sizes were planned to range from approximately 38 to 220 square metres. The top floor was to include terrace apartments, while other apartments were to have glazed balconies. Plans also included a gym, spa area, shared lounges and an underground car park.
Skanska was the construction contractor, and Auratum Asunnot Helsinki Oy was its project partner and developer. Skanska regional director Jukka Kylliö discussed the construction work, while Auratum’s development director Petri Reunanen commented on the project. Arkkitehtiryhmä A6 Oy was named as principal designer; Puroplan Oy was responsible for shared-space design and Sitowise for landscape design.
The building stands beside Sibelius Park and the Soutustadion. The announcement placed the project within Auratum’s wider development activity in the area, including its nearby Taivallahti Kasarmi housing project.