Services at Kivenlahti have become more diversified – business centre plans to be specified
Hybridiarena Hype, which is already partly in operation, has brought plenty of new services to Kivenlahti. New restaurant services will open at the arena before the end of the month. The whole building is expected to be in use in May 2025.
The plans of the Kivenlahti business centre to be built on Höyrylaivantie will be specified after Laurea University of Applied Sciences pulled out from the project. Laurea was supposed to have its premises on the second floor of the business centre.
“The construction company SRV and the City of Espoo are working together to explore alternatives so that the construction of the business centre and another metro entrance built along with it could be launched as soon as possible,” says Project Manager Hilkka Julkunen from the City of Espoo.
One of the entrances to the metro station will be in the business centre. The entrance currently in use is in the corner of Kivenlahdentori square at the address Meriusva 7.
The business centre will have a grocery store and some smaller business premises.
Hype will celebrate its opening in May
The privately owned Hybridiarena Hype has brought diverse new services to Kivenlahti. Some of the functions in the sports, cultural and event centre were already opened before Christmas. The aim is to have the centre fully operational in May 2025. For example, the ice training centre, gym, group exercise and cheerleading facilities, and floorball and basketball courts are already open. The arena has organised business events, the senior ball of the Espoo yhteislyseo upper secondary school and the Espoo Sports Gala.
“The next milestone will be 21 March when the restaurant services on the second floor are opened. Hype is scheduled to celebrate its opening from 16 to 18 May. The aim is to have all facilities in use by that time, including a rooftop terrace with an outdoor bar, a restaurant, saunas and a swimming pool,” says Mikko Tuominen, Hype CEO.
According to him, the operations have started well even though construction continues in some of the facilities.
“The opening was delayed by three to four months, but we have gotten off to a good start. We're happy. The Espoo residents have found their way to Hype well,” Tuominen says.
Construction of Cleantech Garden begins in Kiviruukki
In the future, Kiviruukki, located north of Länsiväylä, will be a central part of Kivenlahti. The former industrial area will become a busy conglomeration of jobs, studying and housing.
VTT Bioruukki, an innovation platform for bio-based products and circular economy solutions, already operates in Kiviruukki. A significant bioeconomy and circular economy innovation centre Cleantech Garden will be built next to it. It will bring together actors in science and research and pioneering companies in the field.
Länsi-Espoon lukio upper secondary school with 1,200 students will also be placed in Cleantech Garden. The upper secondary school is expected to start in Kiviruukki in 2027. The school will use Hybridiarena Hype’s facilities as school sports facilities. The new campus of Omnia, the Joint Authority of Education in the Espoo region, will also be located in Cleantech Garden.
In March 2025, the city sold a plot of land to Suohki, Finnish well-being properties. NCC will implement the first part of the Cleantech Garden project on the site. Construction will begin immediately.
In addition to jobs and studies, the plans also include constructing a large number of apartments in Kiviruukki. In 2040, the population of the region is expected to grow to as high as 9,000 inhabitants.
Among the benefits Kivenlahti can offer are excellent transport connections. It can be reached by metro, bus or car. There are car parks at the parking facility next to the arena.