Helsinki Garden may include hotel, apartments and offices after all

The planned Helsinki Garden complex in central Helsinki may yet include a hotel, residential units and office space, despite earlier plans to focus solely on an event and sports arena.

The revised proposal, submitted to the city by project developer Garden Helsinki, retains the original building rights for the additional structures, allowing them to be developed in later phases as separate projects.

The initial phase remains the construction of a multi-purpose arena with seating for up to 23,000 spectators for major concerts and 19,000 for ice hockey events. The existing Helsinki Ice Hall will be integrated into the complex, divided into a 3,000-seat sports and 5,000-seat concert space on one side and facilities for gymnastics, cheerleading and dance on the other.

Plans call for construction to begin in 2027, with completion targeted for late 2030 or early 2031. The total floor area of the project is approximately 100,000 square meters, of which the arena will cover 55,000 square meters.