JKMM Architects

What JKMM Architects does

JKMM Architects (legal entity JKMM Arkkitehdit Oy) is an integrated design practice founded in 1998 in Helsinki, Finland, by Asmo Jaaksi, Teemu Kurkela, Samuli Miettinen, and Juha Mäki-Jyllilä after they won the Turku Main Library competition as a student group. The firm employs approximately 100 designers, architects, interior architects, urban designers, furniture and graphic designers, and artists, organised under an employee/partnership ownership model with multiple named shareholders, including the four founders. Its practice is structured around the design philosophy of 'Infrastructure of Happiness' — connecting architecture, culture, knowledge, and wellbeing — and spans architecture, interior architecture, urban design, furniture design, graphic design, and art integration delivered as a single practice.

The firm's portfolio is built almost entirely on winning invited and open architectural competitions, which convert into long-cycle project commissions delivered through alliances with main contractors (SRV, NCC, Pohjola Rakennus, MVR Oy) and structural and façade partners (Ramboll Finland, Muotobetoni Oy). Notable built and pipeline works include the Amos Rex Art Museum (2018, Helsinki), Hospital Nova (2021, first new Finnish central hospital since the 1970s), Dance House Helsinki (2022, with ILO architects), the Tammela Hybrid Stadium (2024, Finland's first hybrid football stadium, Finlandia Prize winner), the EriCa Green Chemistry Park (2025, Espoo, BREEAM 'Very Good', pioneering formconcrete façade), the National Museum of Finland extension 'Atlas' (opening 2027, ~EUR 55M Senate alliance with SRV), and the Helsinki Architecture and Design Museum 'Kumma' (selected from 624 entries, opening 2030). Internationally, the firm has designed Finland's national pavilions for Shanghai Expo 2010 and Dubai Expo 2020 and was appointed lead architect for the Nadija Children's Hospital in Lviv, Ukraine, in March 2026.

The business model is professional services: revenue is generated through scoped, quote-based design fees per project/commission, executed by a single Helsinki studio. The client base is a mix of public-sector (cities, ministries, parishes, hospital districts, Senate Properties, Business Finland) and private enterprise (foundations, developers such as NCC and A. Ahlström, corporations including Kemira) buyers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; engagement scope and value are negotiated per competition or commission. Strategic leadership transitioned internally on 1 March 2026, with shareholder Arvi Mäkitalo replacing long-serving CEO Samppa Lappalainen; the firm has stated its intent to remain an independent practice.

Name

JKMM Architects

Legal name

JKMM Arkkitehdit Oy

Website

https://jkmm.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

JKMM Architects is an integrated Helsinki-based architectural design practice of ~100 designers, founded in 1998, serving public and private clients across Finland and internationally through competition-driven commissions spanning museums, hospitals, cultural venues, stadiums, and sustainability-focused offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural design and project services fees: JKMM is an independent architectural practice; revenue is generated through professional design services for new-build, renovation, interior and urban design projects for public and private clients (cities, ministries, hospitals, parishes, foundations, corporations). Engagements are typically won via competition and executed through long-cycle project commissions. Scope covers architecture, interior architecture, urban design, furniture design, graphic design, art integration and signage.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

JKMM Architects is an integrated design practice providing professional architectural design and project services covering architecture, interior architecture, urban design, furniture design, graphic design, and art integration. Engagements are won through architectural competitions or direct negotiation and delivered as long-cycle project commissions for public and private clients across cultural, civic, healthcare, sports, commercial, hospitality and infrastructure sectors.

Product overview

JKMM Architects is an integrated design practice based in Helsinki, Finland, encompassing architecture, interior architecture, urban design, furniture design, graphic design, and art. Their portfolio is a unified body of built and conceptual architectural projects — not a modular software platform — organized around the philosophy of 'Infrastructure of Happiness' supporting culture, knowledge, and wellbeing. Key signature projects include the Tammela Hybrid Stadium (Finland's first hybrid football stadium in Tampere), the EriCa Green Chemistry Park (a sustainable research hub in Espoo with BREEAM 'Very Good' rating), the upcoming Architecture and Design Museum of Finland (proposal 'Kumma' winning from 624 entries, opening 2030), the Nadija Children's Hospital in Ukraine, the Dance House Helsinki (Finland's first dedicated dance venue), the National Museum of Finland Extension (Atlas, opening spring 2027), the Amos Rex Art Museum (subterranean museum under undulating dome landscape), and Hospital Nova (Finland's first new central hospital since the 1970s with a revolutionary mall-like operation model). The firm also designs cultural venues (Verkatehdas Culture Center, Viikki Church), Expo pavilions (Finland Pavilion Shanghai 2010 and Dubai 2020), transport infrastructure (Lahti Travel Centre), and heritage restorations (Akola Manor).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tammela Hybrid Stadium Finland's first hybrid football stadium in Tampere, completed spring 2024, covering 13,500 sqm of stadium within a 47,350 sqm city block of residential, commercial and parking space. 8,000-seat capacity meeting UEFA Category 4 requirements, with every seat offering an unobstructed view and capacity expandable to 15,000 for concerts. Delivered for the City of Tampere in alliance with Pohjola Rakennus.
• EriCa Green Chemistry Park Pioneering hub for green chemistry innovation and sustainable development in the Finnoo district of Espoo, Finland. A 21,150 sqm research and office facility with over 10,000 sqm of laboratories, around 2,500 sqm of offices, 1,000 sqm of coworking spaces, and a 400 sqm conference center. Achieved BREEAM 'Very Good' rating at design stage. Main tenant is Kemira; developed by a JV of A. Ahlström, Kirkon Eläkerahasto, and Aktia Life Insurance.
• Architecture and Design Museum of Finland ('Kumma') JKMM's winning proposal 'Kumma' for Helsinki's new Museum of Architecture and Design, selected from 624 entries worldwide. The museum is set to open in 2030 and aims to reinforce Helsinki's leadership in design and architecture as a Nordic hub for creative industries. Carson Chan has been appointed Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs.
• Nadija Children's Hospital (Lviv, Ukraine) JKMM's design for a landmark children's hospital in Lviv, Ukraine, supporting children and young people affected by war. The Nadija initiative introduces a new paediatric healthcare model combining a physical hospital, a virtual hospital (launching 2026) and a research institute. JKMM leads architectural design in collaboration with DELTA Ukraine as local design partner.
• Dance House Helsinki Finland's first landmark venue dedicated to dance at both grassroots and professional levels, completed 2022. A 6,300 sqm new building attached to the historic 1940s Cable Factory, including the 700-seat 'Erkko' main stage with 26m wide and 24m high capacity (largest in the Nordic region) and the 235-seat 'Boiler Room'. Designed by JKMM with ILO architects.
• National Museum of Finland Extension ('Atlas') Largest construction project in the National Museum of Finland's 100+ year history, based on JKMM's winning 'Atlas' proposal. A 6,900 sqm extension with approximately 90% of new spaces located underground across two levels, including 1,100 sqm of flexible exhibition galleries. Features a 600 sqm above-ground pavilion crowned by a saucer-shaped roof 43 meters in diameter weighing 1,400 tons, clad with 5,000+ handcrafted ceramic tiles. Scheduled to open spring 2027.
• Amos Rex Art Museum A new art museum completed 2018 in central Helsinki, comprising a 12,900 sqm subterranean museum and the renovation of the 1930s Functionalist Lasipalatsi building. Built with large concrete domes that allow column-free spans and flexible exhibition spaces, with skylights introducing natural light into the galleries. Forms an undulating landscape for the new urban square at street level. Commissioned by Föreningen Konstsamfundet.
• Hospital Nova, Central Finland First completely new central hospital built in Finland since the 1970s, completed 2021. A 113,000 sqm full-service 450-bed general hospital serving Central Finland's population of 250,000 in Jyväskylä. Introduces a new operating model organising all hospital functions along a central public atrium (hot hospital, hotel/wards, healthcare shopping mall/outpatients, and factory/support). Conceptual design by JKMM with EGM architects for KSSHP.
• Viikki Church A modern timber community church completed 2005 in Helsinki, built entirely of wood at 1,600 sqm plus 2,000 sqm of interior. One of the few modern timber churches in Finland, combining old Finnish traditions and modern architecture with industrial manufacturing processes. Exterior clad in axe-split aspen shingles creating a naturally water-repellent surface without chemicals. Includes church, community centre, parish centre and offices for Helsinki Parish.
• Verkatehdas Culture Center Redevelopment of a 30,000 sqm early-20th-century textile factory complex in Hämeenlinna into a modern cultural centre, completed 2007. Features a 700-seat black-box theatre as main venue, a large glazed inner courtyard forming the functional heart of the cultural venue, and a transformable concert hall (700-seat classical to 1,100 for rock shows). Materials include corten steel, concrete and bricks. Adaptive reuse project for the City of Hämeenlinna.
• Lahti Travel Centre Transport interchange completed 2016-2018 next to the 1930s railway station in central Lahti, totalling 11,000 sqm. Features a 60-metre long perforated-copper canopy for the bus terminal and a sculptural lift shaft leading to the road tunnel beneath, with structural glass and integrated lighting. Commissioned by the City of Lahti.
• Finland Pavilion Dubai Expo 2020 ('Lumi') Finland's Expo Pavilion 'Lumi' (Snow Cape), completed 2021 in Dubai, UAE, totalling 1,867 sqm. Inspired by the first thin white layer of snowfall, combining Finnish nature and culture with UAE through an Arabic-tent-inspired entrance. Inside, a top-lit gorge-like space clad with wooden lattice creates a gathering space. Theme: 'Finland - Sharing Future Happiness'. Commissioned by Business Finland.
• Finland Pavilion Shanghai Expo 2010 ('Kirnu') Finland's World Expo Pavilion 'Kirnu' in Shanghai, completed 2010, totalling 3,400 sqm. Portrayed Finland in miniature and presented the Finnish vision of 'A Good Life' to the world. Pavilion inspired by nature with a stone-on-seashore form surrounded by water; façade clad with 'scales' made of waterproof paper from recycled industrial waste. Visited by more than 5 million people and selected as best pavilion in its class. Commissioned by Business Finland.
• Akola Manor Heritage Restoration Restoration of a protected historic country house in Ii, Northwest Finland, completed 2021, totalling 720 sqm. Built in 1796 as a rare local timber interpretation of Gustavian style manor architecture. Personal project of JKMM founding partner Teemu Kurkela, with collaboration from Louekari and Nomaji Landscape Architects.
• Steam of Life Sauna (Burning Man 2019) A 70 sqm art installation completed 2019 for Burning Man 2019 in Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Designed and built by the Sauna on Fire collective and JKMM Architects, bringing the essence of Finnish sauna tradition to the desert. An iconic circular wooden pavilion with an atrium yard serving as shaded oasis for cooling down and meditative relaxation.
• Töölö Junior Hall Excess-pressure indoor practice hall completed 2015 in Helsinki next to the Olympic Stadium, totalling 6,300 sqm. Settles into surroundings with a simple shape and light-coloured semi-transparent surface that emphasises geometric structure and creates lively changes in shape through daylight. Commissioned by Helsinki Stadion Management.
• Koli Cultura Resort Nature tourism and cultural resort project initiated 2016 on the slopes of Koli Hill in Koli National Park, Finland, totalling 13,000 sqm. Designed as a sustainable landmark of responsible nature tourism, with buildings shaped like small sculptural hills arranged to shelter from winds and built primarily in wood. Includes five-star accommodation, restaurants, cafes, wellness services, conference facilities and nature activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• BREEAM Outstanding — first building in Finland targeting the highest BREEAM level (We Land, with –30% carbon vs. baseline, –23% energy vs. limits, 95% construction-waste utilization, A energy class)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• DELTA UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Local design partner collaborating with JKMM on the architectural design of the Nadija Children's Hospital in Lviv, Ukraine. The hospital is part of an integrated programme combining a virtual hospital, research institute and physical rehabilitation hospital led by the Nadija Foundation with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Lviv National Medical University.
• Nadija FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Lead organisation for the Nadija Children's Hospital initiative. JKMM has been appointed as lead architect for the physical hospital, working with the Foundation, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Lviv National Medical University.
• Ministry of Health of UkrainecoreOthers · 18 March 2026Government partner in the Nadija Children's Hospital initiative alongside the Nadija Foundation and Lviv National Medical University.
• Lviv National Medical UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Academic partner for the Nadija Children's Hospital initiative together with the Nadija Foundation and Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
• Strategisk ArkitekturcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2024Swedish architecture partner; the JKMM + Strategisk Arkitektur team was selected among the top 6 finalists in the international Gothenburg Museum of Art extension and renovation competition with their "Etos" proposal.
• EGM architectsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerConceptual co-design partner with JKMM for Hospital Nova in Jyväskylä, developed over many years in close collaboration with KSSHP. Together they created the innovative hospital operating model (hot hospital / hotel / health-care shopping mall / factory).
• ILO architectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner with JKMM on the Dance House Helsinki project. Design team included Pia Ilonen and Kati Murtola from ILO architects alongside JKMM's Teemu Kurkela, Harri Lindberg and others.
• Pohjola Rakennus OycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance partner with the City of Tampere and JKMM Architects on the Tammela Hybrid Stadium project, which took over a decade to realise and was completed in spring 2024.
• Ramboll Finland OycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineer on the Tammela Stadium, working with JKMM since the invitation competition; responsible for the demanding steel structures including the innovative suspension-bridge solution. Also named element designer for the EriCa Green Chemistry Park.
• Teräselementti OyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSteel element manufacturer for the Tammela Hybrid Stadium.
• Temacon Finland OyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSteel structure installer for the Tammela Hybrid Stadium.
• Muotobetoni OycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFaçade design collaborator for EriCa Green Chemistry Park. Co-developed the pioneering formconcrete façade technique used extensively as the primary façade material — the first building in which this Finnish-developed technique has been used at this scale.
• Haahtela OyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management consultant for the EriCa Green Chemistry Park project.
• Betoniluoma OyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConcrete element supplier for the EriCa Green Chemistry Park.
• SRVflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor for the National Museum of Finland extension (Senate alliance). Total contract value ~EUR 55 million. Foundation stone laid 17 May 2024; museum opens 2027.
• NCC (renovation contractor)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor for the partial renovation of the National Museum of Finland historic main building (~EUR 35 million budget). NCC is also JKMM's development partner for We Land office building in Helsinki.
• A-Konsultit Oy (with Talli Oy, Wilhelm Helander and Juha Leiviskä)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign consortium responsible for the main and architectural planning of the National Museum of Finland historic main building renovation, alongside JKMM's responsibility for the new extension.
• MVR OycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor for the Pori SKiB Campus project; construction started summer 2023 with completion by end of 2025; total budget ~EUR 38 million.
• Prepon OyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction management consultant and site supervisor for the SKiB Campus project.
• LouekariminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborator with JKMM and Nomaji Landscape Architects on the Akola Manor restoration project in Ii.
• Nomaji Landscape ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architecture partner with JKMM and Louekari on the Akola Manor restoration.
• Sauna on Fire collectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary co-design collective that worked with JKMM Architects to design and build the "Steam of Life Sauna" pavilion installation at Burning Man 2019 in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada.
• Samppa LappalainencoreOthersOutgoing CEO of JKMM Architects (served since 2018); will remain in the company's service until 14 April 2026 as he transitions out. Not an external partner; listed as leadership change.
• City of TurkucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation partnership with JKMM under the "Sytytä Turku" competition framework (2020) to develop the Turku Market Hall Block ("Kauppahallikortteli") master plan, including concept plans for the historic Market Hall renovation.
• NCC Property DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner with JKMM on the 37,000 m² We Land office building in Helsinki Ruoholahti, which is targeting BREEAM Outstanding (first in Finland).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ALA Architects: ALA Architects is a Helsinki-based integrated design practice of comparable size and profile, working across cultural, public and infrastructure projects in Finland and internationally. It is the most direct Finnish peer to JKMM in terms of scale, competition-driven growth and public-sector client base.
• Anttinen Oiva Architects: Anttinen Oiva is a leading Finnish architectural office known for cultural, educational and public-sector projects in Finland, with a similar competition-led business model and roughly comparable size to JKMM.
• Avanto Architects: Avanto Architects is a Helsinki-based practice with a strong portfolio of public and cultural architecture in Finland. It competes with JKMM on similar cultural and civic briefs and operates a comparable design-led, competition-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: Snøhetta is a larger Norwegian-founded international architecture and design practice with strong cultural, public and landscape portfolios. It overlaps with JKMM on cultural venues and public architecture, but at significantly larger scale and with a broader multi-discipline offering.
• White Arkitekter: White Arkitekter is one of the largest Nordic architecture practices, with a broad portfolio of cultural, healthcare, educational and sustainable buildings. It competes with JKMM on Nordic public briefs and is a relevant incumbent benchmark for scale and sustainability credentials.
• Henning Larsen: Henning Larsen is a major Danish architecture firm with a strong portfolio of cultural, civic and sustainable buildings across the Nordics and globally. It competes with JKMM on cultural and public architecture briefs in the Nordic region and beyond.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): BIG is a large international architecture practice known for high-profile cultural, civic and stadium projects worldwide. It is comparable to JKMM in its competition-led growth and landmark cultural builds, though at substantially greater scale and global reach.
• Foster + Partners: Foster + Partners is a global architecture incumbent with deep experience in cultural and museum buildings. It is comparable to JKMM as a fellow competitor for major museum and cultural commissions (e.g., international architecture competitions like Helsinki ADM), but at vastly larger scale.
• Zaha Hadid Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects is a global architecture incumbent known for iconic cultural, civic and infrastructure projects. It competes with JKMM on the same international competition circuit for landmark cultural and civic buildings.

Emerging players

• Cobe: Cobe is a Copenhagen-based architecture and urban design practice with a strong portfolio of cultural and public buildings in the Nordics. It is comparable to JKMM in its design-led, competition-driven approach to cultural and civic projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about JKMM Architects