Varma and SOK have signed a new long-term lease agreement on the rental of office space in Ässäkeskus, SOK’s head office located in Vallila, Helsinki. SOK’s head office has been in the same premises since 1991.
The office complex, located on Fleminginkatu 34 and owned by Varma, comprises roughly 41,000 square metres and includes a parking facility with close to 500 parking spaces. Some 1,950 people are employed at Ässäkeskus. Good traffic connections, such as the proximity of a train and metro station, and the parking spaces serve those working on the premises as well as its visitors.
As part of the new lease agreement, Varma will carry out a major renovation of the premises, thus bringing the property up to modern technical standards and functional requirements.
“SOK has a long history in Vallila. With the renovation of Ässäkeskus, the spaces will be more functional and will better meet our need for modern business premises. We are turning the entire Ässäkeskus complex into a multifunctional office where employees can flexibly choose a suitable working environment, for example, for teamwork or for work requiring concentration. The more effective use of space will contribute to a smaller carbon footprint, among other things,” says SOK’s Vice President of Real Estate, Pasi Suutari.
“We are pleased that our long-term and good co-operation with SOK in Vallila continues. Renovations to Varma’s real estate base and the fitting use of the premises for years to come support sustainable development and Varma’s responsible investment target of reducing the carbon footprint of its properties,” says Ilkka Tomperi, investment director in charge of Varma’s real estate operations.
Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company is the most solvent earnings-related pension company and largest private investor in Finland. The company is responsible for the statutory earnings-related pension cover of some 870,000 people in the private sector. Premiums written totalled EUR 4.7 billion in 2016 and pension payments stood at EUR 5.3 billion. Varma’s investment portfolio amounted to EUR 42.9 billion at the end of 2016.
SOK operates as the central organisation of the S Group’s cooperative enterprises and provides them with procurement, expert and support services. SOK is also responsible for the strategic guidance of S Group and the development of the business chains.
Further information:
Ilkka Tomperi, Investment Director, Real Estate, Varma, tel. +358 50 379 1903, email ilkka.tomperi@varma.fi
Pasi Suutari, Vice President of Real Estate, SOK, tel. +358 40 504 4292, Pasi.Suutari@sok.fi
Leena Rantasalo, Communications Manager, Varma, tel. +358 50 300 7980, email leena.rantasalo@varma.fi