ALA Architects

What ALA Architects does

ALA Architects is a Helsinki-based architectural firm founded in 2005 by Juho Grönholm, Antti Nousjoki, Janne Teräsvirta, and Samuli Woolston after winning the open international competition for Kilden Performing Arts Centre in Kristiansand, Norway. The firm, now run by three partners (Teräsvirta having departed around 2015), employs 41-44 architects, designers, and staff representing 12 nationalities. It specializes in demanding public and cultural buildings (theaters, concert halls, libraries), transportation infrastructure (metro stations, airport terminals), renovation of modernist buildings, and master planning. The portfolio includes Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Kilden Performing Arts Centre, Helsinki Airport Terminal 2 expansion (2021), five Helsinki metro stations (2017 and 2022), Aalto University Dipoli renovation, the Finnish Embassy in New Delhi, and Nokia's Oulu R&D campus, with ongoing projects across Finland, France, Estonia, and Norway.

The firm delivers projects using contemporary design tools - Building Information Modeling (BIM), parametric design software, and 3D printing - combined with traditional physical model-making and materials research. It holds the Finnish Ekokompassi environmental management certification and routinely designs to LEED Gold/Platinum, WELL Gold, BREEAM NOR Excellent, and French HQE standards on client-mandated projects. Service revenue comes exclusively from project-based design commissions with multi-year contracts; no standard pricing is publicly disclosed, and fees are determined by scope and complexity.

ALA acquires work primarily by winning open and invited international design competitions and through direct commissions from institutional clients, government bodies (Senate Properties, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finavia, City of Kuopio), universities (Aalto University, Lumière Lyon 2, Estonian Business School), and commercial real estate developers (Skanska, WasaGroup, Metro Capital). It maintains a recurring partner network of structural, MEP, landscape, acoustic, and visualization consultancies that enable cross-border execution. Marketing is portfolio-driven via the ala.fi website, earned media in architectural publications (ARK, GA Document, Architectural Record, Detail), and presence at events including the Venice Biennale. The firm has accumulated 40+ awards, including the 2012 Finnish State Prize for Architecture, multiple Prix Versailles, EU Mies Award shortlistings, and the 2025 Design Educates 'Winner of the Year'.

Name

ALA Architects

Legal name

Arkkitehtitoimisto ALA Oy

Website

https://ala.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ALA Architects is a Helsinki-based architecture firm founded in 2005, specializing in cultural buildings, transportation infrastructure, modernist renovation, and master planning for government, institutional, and commercial real estate clients across Europe and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Hospitality & Entertainment Venue Construction (IMAFACAC), Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Cultural building design
• Station architecture design
• Building renovation services
• Master planning services

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Architecture Design Services: Revenue generated from design commissions for new construction projects including cultural buildings, public buildings, metro stations, airports, educational facilities, and residential/commercial developments. Also includes renovation and restoration projects of modernist buildings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ALA Architects is a Helsinki-based architecture firm that provides architectural design services for demanding public and cultural buildings, complex renovation and restoration projects, station design (metro, airports, terminals), and master planning. The firm operates globally and delivers services through direct commissions and by winning international design competitions. Its portfolio spans performing arts venues, transportation hubs, educational facilities, embassies, and high-rise commercial developments.

Product overview

ALA Architects is an architecture firm based in Helsinki, Finland, founded in 2005. The firm offers architectural design services as a unified practice, specializing in demanding public and cultural buildings, complex renovation projects, station design, and master planning. Their portfolio includes cultural venues (theaters, concert halls, libraries), transportation infrastructure (metro stations, airports), educational facilities, and high-rise developments. The firm uses contemporary design tools including building information modeling (BIM), 3D printing, and parametric design software combined with traditional model building and materials research. Key completed projects include Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Kilden Performing Arts Centre in Norway, Nokia's R&D campus in Oulu, and Helsinki Airport Terminal 2 expansion. Currently under construction are La Ruche learning centre for Lumière University Lyon 2, Estonian Business School campus extension in Tallinn, and multiple high-rise projects in Pasila, Helsinki.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Comprehensive architectural design services for demanding public and cultural buildings, station design, renovation of modernist buildings, and master planning. Delivered to institutional clients, government bodies, universities, and real estate developers through direct commissions and design competitions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 performing arts halls and auditoriums completed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NOBEcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Main contractor for Estonian Business School campus extension project.
• Nicolas Favet ArchitectescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Architect partner on Lumière University Lyon 2 Learning Centre project in France, providing local architectural expertise.
• MASU PlanningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration partner in urban planning and high-rise district projects. Worked together on Helsinki High-Rise competition and further design phases.
• Columbia University GSAPPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution where ALA partners have taught architecture, supporting knowledge exchange and talent development.
• Washington University in St. Louis - Sam Fox School of Design & Visual ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution where ALA partners taught in 2015 Helsinki International Semester.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Danish architecture firm specializing in cultural, civic, and mixed-use buildings, winning international competitions. Comparable in competition-led growth model and cultural-building specialization.
• Studio Libeskind: International architecture firm with a strong cultural and public-building portfolio (museums, performing arts centers). Comparable in cultural-venue focus and competition-driven GTM at similar headcount scale.
• Snøhetta: Norwegian-headquartered architecture firm with a comparable focus on cultural buildings, public libraries, and opera houses, and similar global competition-led GTM. The closest Nordic peer in scale and project mix to ALA.
• Cobe: Danish architecture practice with comparable cultural-building and public-infrastructure portfolio (e.g., Copenhagen libraries, urban master plans). Direct peer in Northern European cultural architecture niche.
• White Arkitekter: Swedish architecture firm with strong Nordic public-sector and cultural-venue portfolio. Comparable in regional focus, sustainability credentials, and competition-led project acquisition.
• Henning Larsen: Danish architecture firm with strong cultural, civic, and transportation portfolios, now part of Rambøll. Comparable in Nordic origin, cultural-building focus, and Scandinavian design language.
• 3XN: Danish architecture firm focused on cultural, civic, and commercial buildings, with strong sustainability positioning. Comparable in Nordic design pedigree and international cultural-venue work.

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: Global architecture firm with extensive cultural, transport, and public-sector portfolio including airports and metro stations. Comparable in transport/cultural building types but at much larger scale.
• Zaha Hadid Architects: Larger, globally established architecture firm with a broader portfolio across cultural, transport, and commercial projects. Comparable in cultural-venue specialization but operates at materially greater scale and name recognition.

Regional players

• Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects: Helsinki-based Finnish architecture firm with similar cultural-building and public-sector portfolio. Comparable in domestic competitive context but operates primarily in Finland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ALA_Architects
• Facebookfacebook.com/ALAfromHELSINKI

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ALA Architects