Stora Enso plans to undertake a unique wooden construction project in Finland called Wood City in collaboration with the construction company SRV. A proposal that a site in the Jätkäsaari district of Helsinki be reserved for Stora Enso Oyj and SRV Yhtiöt Oyj was submitted today to the Real Estate Board of the City of Helsinki. The aim is to create a world-class project in which engineering skills can be taught in a practical way and to develop wood architecture. The extraordinary city to be built of wood includes office, hotel and commercial buildings. The first buildings are expected to be completed in 2013.

Special attention will be paid to solutions that improve energy efficiency in designing and constructing the buildings for the area. A high standard, internationally interesting and progressive plan for Wood City will be sought through an invitation-only design competition. Stora Enso is planning to supply supporting structures based on its new Urban MultiStorey™ concept for the buildings totalling 20 000 square metres of floor area in the site.

“Development of the new CLT-based Urban MultiStorey™ concept has been not only one of the most important Building Solutions actions in strengthening our strategy, but also the start of a totally new future for construction. The concept, which is especially suitable for energy-efficient construction, is a more competitive and flexible total solution for our customers than other construction solutions for multiple-storey buildings globally. In addition to rapid construction, the major advantage of the concept is cost-effective construction of impermeable, fire-resistant and long-lasting wooden buildings,” says Hannu Kasurinen, EVP, Stora Enso Wood Products.