Helin & Co Architects

What Helin & Co Architects does

Helin & Co Architects (legal name: Arkkitehtitoimisto Pekka Helin & Co. Oy) is a Helsinki-headquartered architectural practice founded by Pekka Helin, operating since 1995 (predecessor Helin-Siitonen Architects dates to ~1991) with a staff of 11–50. The firm delivers comprehensive architectural services across urban master planning, residential design (including high-rise towers, villas, and senior housing), commercial and corporate headquarters, transport infrastructure (notably metro stations), healthcare facilities, and the renovation of historical monuments such as the Finnish Parliament Building. Its practice is characterized by a strong emphasis on sustainable design, pioneering use of wood in construction (including the Finnforest Modular Offices, one of Europe's tallest wooden office buildings), and harmonious integration of new buildings into existing surroundings.

The business is a professional services firm earning project-based commissions from public sector clients (Parliament of Finland, City of Helsinki, Länsimetro, Aalto University, University of Helsinki) and Finnish enterprise (UPM, Nordea, Metsä Group, TietoEVRY, Ilmarinen, SRV, Finavia), with a secondary international footprint in Norway, Sweden, South Korea, China, and Nepal. Go-to-market is competition-led: the firm actively enters architectural competitions and has accumulated 40 first-prize wins and 70 awards (including Finland's State Award for Architecture in 2006), supplemented by direct consultation via [email protected]. Visibility is sustained through publications in international architectural journals, two monographs, and touring exhibitions (most recently at Aedes Architecture Forum in Berlin in September 2025).

Revenue is generated entirely through project-based commissions on multi-year design contracts; pricing is custom and not publicly disclosed. The firm is privately held, founder-controlled (Pekka Helin as Chairman), with no disclosed external investment, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity. The 25+ person design roster is led by Totti Helin (Design Director) and seven SAFA-certified lead architects, supplemented by a co-operating arrangement with Marja-Riitta Norri Architects for capacity flexibility.

Name

Helin & Co Architects

Legal name

Arkkitehtitoimisto Pekka Helin & Co. Oy

Website

https://helinco.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Helin & Co Architects is a Helsinki-based, founder-led architectural practice (founded 1995) delivering urban master plans, high-rise residential, commercial headquarters, metro stations, healthcare facilities, and historical renovations for Finnish public-sector and enterprise clients, with selected international projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban master planning
• Sustainable architecture
• Wood construction
• Historical renovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural services including building design, urban planning, renovation planning, interior design, and product/graphic/visual design. Revenue is generated through project-based commissions for public and private sector clients
2. Competition Winnings: The firm wins first prizes in architectural competitions both in Finland and internationally, which lead to commissioned projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Helin & Co Architects provides comprehensive architectural design services covering urban master plans and redevelopment projects, residential buildings (villas, apartments, high-rise towers), commercial and office complexes, transport infrastructure (metro stations), healthcare facilities, civic and cultural buildings, and renovations of historical monuments. The firm primarily wins work through 40 national and international architectural competitions and delivers projects for government institutions, corporate clients, and developers across Northern Europe and selected international markets.

Product overview

Helin & Co Architects is one of the leading architectural offices in Northern Europe, offering comprehensive architectural design services. The firm operates as a single unified practice rather than a platform-with-modules architecture. Their portfolio spans urban planning and master plans, residential design (apartments, villas, senior housing), commercial and office buildings, transport infrastructure (metro stations), healthcare facilities, and historical renovations. Notable projects include the Kalasatama Centre REDI (mixed-use development with 8 high-rise towers), the Kalasatama Health and Well-being Centre, Western Metro stations (Lauttasaari and Koivusaari), and various corporate headquarters such as Nokia House, Metsä Group HQ, and UPM Biofore House. The firm has received 70 awards and won 40 national and international competitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Comprehensive architectural design services covering urban master plans, redevelopment projects, retail and multifunctional complexes, transport buildings, civic and cultural buildings, private houses, villas, furniture designs, and renovations of historical monuments. Provided to government institutions, corporate clients, and developers.
• Urban Planning and Master Planning City planning and urban master planning services, including large-scale mixed-use developments such as Kalasatama Centre (REDI) and international urban projects in Nepal (Kathmandu Valley urban design for 500,000-700,000 inhabitants on ~50 sq km).
• Residential Design Housing design including apartments, villas, and senior living facilities. Notable projects include Villa Krona, Primary-Stingy Block of Flats, and the eight high-rise residential towers at Kalasatama Centre (Majakka 35 floors, Loisto 32 floors, Lumo One 31 floors, Visio 24 floors, Horisontti 26 floors).
• Commercial and Office Buildings Design of office buildings, corporate headquarters, and commercial complexes. Notable projects include Nokia House, Tieto Keilalahti Campus, Metsä Group Headquarters, UPM Biofore House, Nordea Campus, and Lepakko Ilmarinen office building.
• Transport Infrastructure Design Design of transport buildings including metro stations with unique thematic identities. Notable projects include Lauttasaari and Koivusaari metro stations for Helsinki's Western Metro, rated Helsinki's most pleasant stations (Koivusaari 4.3/5, Lauttasaari 3.98/5).
• Healthcare Facility Design Design of health and well-being centres that combine social and healthcare services. The flagship Kalasatama Health and Well-being Centre is an award-winning project that received five stars from young Finnish doctors and the highest possible user satisfaction score.
• Historical Renovation and Civic Buildings Renovation of important buildings and historical monuments including the Finnish Parliament House, Pikkuparlamentti Annexe, and other historical structures. Also includes design of civic and cultural buildings for government clients.
• Sustainable and Wood Construction Design Specialized architectural design for sustainable buildings and wood construction, including modular offices, wooden facades, and ecological materials. The Metsä pavilion for the Tokyo Olympics exemplifies the firm's pioneering approach to wood architecture.

Quantifiable outcome

• Koivusaari metro station achieved highest user satisfaction score of 4.3/5 among Helsinki's metro stations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LPR – ArkkitehditminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Finnish architectural firm partnering with Helin & Co on the European Parliament Paul Henri Spaak Building competition. The team was among finalists alongside Renzo Piano, Dominique Perrault, and Snøhetta.
• SitowiseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Finnish engineering and design consultancy partnering with Helin & Co and LPR on the European Parliament competition. Focus on sustainability targets including energy savings and carbon storage.
• Maa-arkkitehtitoimisto Maanlumo OyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Landscape architecture firm collaborating on the Bryga deck park project, part of REDI Kalasatama Centre. Bryga was awarded Environmental Structure of the Year 2019.
• Metsä GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Metsä Group partnered with Helin & Co for the Metsä pavilion design for Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Also collaborated on Metsä Group headquarters (Iconic Awards 2013 winner) and various wood construction projects.
• Business FinlandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Business Finland partnered on the Metsä pavilion project for Tokyo 2020 Olympics, providing funding and international promotion for Finnish wood architecture.
• JK AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Nepalese engineering firm collaborating with Helin & Co on the Kathmandu Valley urban development project for 500,000-700,000 inhabitants. JK Associates provides local engineering expertise and regulatory knowledge for the sustainable development project.
• SusteconcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Finnish engineering firm coordinating technical systems analysis for the Kathmandu Valley project. Coordinates ecological solutions analysis and technical localization for the Nepalese development.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Finnish research institution providing technical expertise for the Kathmandu Valley sustainable urban development project.
• SitowiseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Finnish engineering firm providing technical expertise for the Kathmandu Valley sustainable urban development project.
• SRVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010SRV is the development partner for Kalasatama Centre, a major urban development project. Helin & Co won the design-build competition in cooperation with SRV in 2010. The project includes 8 high-rise towers and REDI shopping centre.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• A-lab: Norwegian architecture firm of similar size with experience in cultural, transport, and urban regeneration projects across the Nordic region.
• ALA Architects: Helsinki-based architecture practice of comparable size and prestige in Northern Europe, working across cultural, civic, and residential projects. Closest geographic and scale-matched Finnish peer.
• Cobe: Copenhagen-based architecture firm with strong Nordic presence and experience in urban planning, residential, and civic projects, comparable to Helin & Co's portfolio mix.
• JKMM Architects: Finnish architecture office with a similar award track record and project mix spanning cultural, civic, and university work; competes in the same Nordic architectural-competition ecosystem.
• Lundgaard & Tranberg: Norwegian architecture practice known for cultural, civic, and residential buildings with a comparable sustainability and material-craft emphasis to Helin & Co.

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: UK-headquartered global architecture incumbent with deep experience in civic, transport, and high-rise projects; competes for the largest international commissions.
• Snøhetta: Norwegian-origin, internationally scaled architecture practice with a strong civic/cultural portfolio. Directly compared as a finalist with Helin & Co on the European Parliament Spaak Building competition.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Danish-headquartered global architecture practice with extensive Nordic roots. A larger incumbent competitor for international competitions and marquee commissions.
• Zaha Hadid Architects: Global architecture practice recognized for large-scale cultural, transport, and mixed-use projects; a typical larger incumbent competitor for international design competitions.
• Henning Larsen: Danish architecture firm (now part of Rambøll) with a global footprint and strong cultural/educational portfolio; competes for the same European civic and cultural briefs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Helincoarchitects
• Instagraminstagram.com/helincoarchitects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Helin & Co Architects