You will have three weeks to comment on the entries, from 15 June to 6 July 2026. You can show your support by giving an entry a thumbs up or comment on the entries by leaving a message (Link leads to external service) on the competition’s own website(Link leads to external service)
Versatile and long-lasting space designed to meet the needs of evolving operations
A two-stage invitation competition is underway for the architectural design of Stoa’s renovation and extension. The aim is to develop Stoa into an even better functioning and more open and attractive cultural centre that serves the local residents and the whole city in a wide range of ways. The competition features participants from Finland, Denmark, Norway and the United States.
More space for culture and social interaction
The redesign of Stoa has been planned in collaboration with local residents for several years now. It’s really wonderful to see how the wishes and needs of locals and Stoa visitors are being turned into concrete plans on the architects’ drawing boards. We hope that the city residents will also take this opportunity to look into the plans and comment on them.
The building’s extension will house facilities such as Stoa’s long-awaited new main auditorium, which will allow for an even more diverse programme of events and strengthen Stoa’s position as a culture venue in East Helsinki. Stoa’s current premises are considered in the plans, aiming to preserve the building’s heritage value and distinctive features. Together with the extension, they will become the Stoa of the future.
A new service concept was developed for Stoa prior to the facility project in close collaboration with Stoa’s users and key stakeholders. Key services – the library, youth centre, arts and culture facilities, and the adult education centre – will continue their work in the renewed premises.
Incorporating residents’ views into the assessment
The competition is still ongoing, so the website only has limited material for each of the entries. The jury has access to more extensive materials, allowing them to carry out their duty of assessing the entries. Cost and sustainability assessments will also be commissioned for the sites.
At this stage, representatives of the service providers using the premises will also be consulted. The competition is based on the needs of the people using the facilities.
The residents' assessments will be submitted to the jury.
The jury will consider the site from several different perspectives. The competition entry must not only be of a high architectural standard but must also comply with the competition’s objectives and design guidelines. The jury will assess the entries against criteria such as the functional characteristics of the premises, e.g. their versatility and adaptability, the overarching architectural concept, and how well the construction methods take the environment into consideration.
Second stage of the competition to begin in autumn
The jury will assess which proposals have the greatest potential for development, and will invite their design teams or consortiums to the second competition stage. The shortlisted competition entries will be announced on 17 September 2026.