Antiloopi, the owner and developer of sustainable commercial property in the greater Helsinki area, has added WELL Gold certification to the LEED Platinum certification received for the historic Siltasaari 10 commercial building in 2021.

WELL Gold confirms a property is offering users a working environment that supports wellbeing.

Siltasaari 10 is the first of the group’s buildings to achieve gold-level certification under the standard which has only been awarded to seven other properties in Finland.

“The facilities at Siltasaari 10 are of top quality and optimised for wellbeing,” says Tuomas Hulkkonen, the building’s asset manager, with Antilooppi CEO, Tuomas Sahi, adding that wellbeing is increasingly an important consideration for job applicants in today’s competitive employment landscape.

The certification process considered the building’s focus on the health and wellness of building users by assessing indoor air quality (IAQ), water quality, lighting, thermal comfort, materials, and sound. It also reviewed the catering and foodservice offering, provision of on-site gym and exercise facilities, community spirit, and spatial solutions which might support overall wellbeing.

Siltasaari 10 underwent a comprehensive refurbishment in 2021, embedding user wellness into the design and construction process. The building incorporates low-emission materials and adheres to the highest standards in terms of building services including heating and lighting which uses automatic lighting controls. Other improvements include a focus on minimising waste, and water fixtures which are designed for efficiency to help reduce consumption. An AI-based energy management system optimises the performance of heating, plumbing, and ventilation systems, whilst careful attention has been given to acoustics and sound insulation.

“The certification process guided us in improving the functionality of the building, resulting in enhanced comfort in common areas and working conditions, including ergonomic considerations,” says Hulkkonen, who also cites positive feedback which has been received from building users and tenants.

Sustainability and wellbeing are also supported by the property’s waterside location in Hakaniemi, a suburb of Helsinki, which encourages travel by water as well as sustainable transport methods. The building features a 400-space bike park with e-bike charging stations and even supports a bike sharing service. Signs promote physical activity by encouraging the use of stairs.

Siltasaari 10 has also been designed to foster a sense of community in breakout areas, restaurants, and within Antilooppi’s flexible POOL workspace areas.

In 2021, Siltasaari 10 achieved the highest number of points recorded for a building in Finland when it underwent LEED v4 Platinum certification.

Sustainability is a core element of Antilooppi’s strategy, which focuses on carbon neutrality and human wellbeing and is being supported by further investment to promote wellness of building users.

The WELL Gold certificate is simply an amazing achievement and a tangible demonstration that Siltasaari 10 offers facilities that support all areas of wellbeing for work and socialising

“The WELL Gold certificate is simply an amazing achievement and a tangible demonstration that Siltasaari 10 offers facilities that support all areas of wellbeing for work and socialising”, comments Hannamari Koivula, Antilooppi’s Head of Sustainability and Property Management. “The certification process helped identify areas for improvement, resulting in verifiably healthy conditions for the property’s users.”