SEB Baltic Headquarters in Tallinn's Kalamaja District Officially Laid Its Cornerstone

Today, the cornerstone was laid for Talsinka, the downtown's largest smart money quarter, where the SEB Baltic headquarters will become the anchor tenant of the Ahtri 3 building.

The developer of Talsinka Quarter is US Real Estate, the architectural solution was created by Arhitekt11, and Innopolis is the main designer. Bildgren Ehitus is building the first phase of the quarter. Talsinka Quarter will be completed in phases in 2028-2029.

According to Rain Pärna, head of Talsinka Quarter at US Real Estate, today's cornerstone laying represents the most important cornerstone in the renewing district. It gives the quarter a strong anchor tenant, a clear quality mark, and confirmation that Tallinn's waterfront city center is moving into a new stage of development. "I have been asked whether today's cornerstone laid is for the Ahtri 3 building, SEB Baltic's new headquarters, or Talsinka Quarter's cornerstone? The answer is: all three. At the same time, it is the new cornerstone for the entire waterfront city center, which is of symbolic importance in the development of urban space," said Pärn.

SEB Bank's board chairman Allan Parik said that since banking and work forms have changed significantly over time, SEB's new headquarters responds well to the changed circumstances and creates excellent conditions for employees to provide the best customer experience. "Banking has long since ceased to be merely a service – it is an experience. We want SEB's new headquarters to be a place where people want to come both to work and for client meetings. A place that builds trust and where better decisions are made," emphasized Parik and noted that today's planning and construction process is a first confirmation that Talsinka is becoming just such a place.

The architectural solution for Talsinka Quarter was created under the direction of Illimar Truverk of Arhitekt11. Truverk highlighted at the cornerstone laying that the goal was to create something very special, as Talsinka is a pearl in the entire area: a living environment, a place to enjoy work, but also a landmark that shines with its materials, form, and details.

"A good building is born from good relationships, where the client and architect create it together. In this process, the client is like a father, who gives the vision and direction. The architect is the creator, or mother, who gives the vision form and soul. From their shared creativity and synergy, the child is born – this building. At the cornerstone, it is also important to note the builder. The builder is like a midwife here, whose task is to care for this birth to proceed without complications and for the result to be exactly as smart and beautiful as we have planned," said Truverk and noted that the birth of the new quarter has been the fruit of excellent teamwork.

The chairman of Bildgren Ehitus's board highlighted that the construction of Talsinka will likely set several Estonian construction records.

"I don't know of any other such large quarter in Estonia where 24,000 m2 of space would be under construction simultaneously on two underground floors. The entire complexity of the construction process stems from the neighboring buildings, the tram line, the traffic organization on Ahtri Street, and the port's underground area, which presents us, construction engineers, with challenges within a tight schedule. From Bildgren Ehitus's side, the entire construction process has been well thought out both in engineering and construction technology terms, so that everything corresponds to the architects' vision and the needs of the people and companies operating in the quarter, so that the buildings are completed according to the agreed deadlines," said Urmas Kaasik, board member of Bildgren Ehitus.

Swedbank is financing the development. "We are pleased to support our long-term partner US Real Estate's outstanding project, which helps make Tallinn's city center more contemporary and creates a suitable environment for both local businesses and residents. We are always ready to contribute to projects that invest in urban space and community development," said Mihkel Utt, head of Swedbank's corporate banking department.

According to the head of Talsinka Quarter, construction is progressing according to plan and interest in the apartments and commercial spaces being completed has been stronger than expected. "The market is ready and waiting for such an integrated quarter where, in addition to buildings and square meters, a longevity approach is strongly implemented: the creation of an urban environment that supports people's health, movement towards balance, and improved quality of life," said Pärn.

He highlighted that by the time of the cornerstone laying, a quarter of the apartments being created in the quarter have already been sold and negotiations with several business space anchor tenants are progressing successfully.

US Real Estate's goal is for the quarter to be substantially ready by the end of 2028 and for the final details to receive their finishing touches in early 2029. "This is an ambitious goal – to create uncompromisingly quality urban space in one of Tallinn's most important locations. In the creation process, smooth cooperation with partners, designers, builders, clients, including anchor tenant SEB Bank, is important," thanked Pärn the participants in the development of Talsinka Quarter.