Antilooppi

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An office with many sea views – Epassi’s new home in Ruoholahti enables growth and well-being

EPASSI’S CUSTOM MADE OFFICE
1760,5 m2 at Porkkalankatu 22
Two-story office space
Market Square lobby café with amphitheater seating
Several meeting rooms, with a 30-person boardroom as the standout favorite

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When Epassi’s CEO, Niklas Löfgren, arrives at the company’s office in Ruoholahti a little after 8:00 a.m., the lobby café, called Market Square, is already buzzing with activity. The sight of happy people grabbing coffee, sharing breakfast, and heading to their workstations proves that Epassi found exactly what it was looking for in Ruoholahti: an office with enough space for teams to collaborate and grow.

Founded in 2007, Epassi is the leading provider of employee benefits technology in Europe, operating in ten countries. In Finland, the company is best known for its digital employee benefits covering exercise, well-being, and lunch benefits. Behind the scenes, however, is a fast-growing technology company built around people and collaboration.

Today, Löfgren sits comfortably on a sofa in a meeting room, reflecting on the company’s move from Leppävaara to Ruoholahti a year ago. The 1,760-square-meter tailored Antilooppi workspace around him feels modern and minimalist yet warm. The colorful walls and concrete floor provide a fitting contrast to the office, mirroring Epassi’s recent success story. The company’s remarkable growth has been a bright spot in an otherwise gray economic landscape.

“We experienced strong growth last year and are still growing. When our previous lease was coming to an end, we needed a larger office that people would enjoy visiting and gathering in. We wanted a space that gives people room to breathe,” says Löfgren, summing up the reasons behind the move.

When a compromise becomes the perfect fit

Everyone has an opinion about where the best office spaces in the Helsinki metropolitan area are located. Epassi, too, explored several options while the timeline grew tighter by the day. According to Löfgren, choosing an office location is always a compromise – but this time, it may have been a nearly perfect one.

”Ultimately, the deciding factors were the cost-quality ratio, excellent access to transportation, and the space’s versatility and overall condition. Antilooppi offered us over 1,760 square meters in place of our previous 650, and the space didn’t require any major renovations. It was easy to make the office our own – even small additions like wall elements made a difference.”

The new office accommodates approximately one hundred employees across two floors. Developers as well as the sales, marketing, customer service, finance, legal, and leadership teams all require different types of spaces for various work activities. They now have an open area for shared work and quiet rooms for focused tasks.

At Epassi, promoting employee well-being is part of the company’s DNA. Seeing this commitment reflected in their new office space was a natural next step. In the new office, encounters are more frequent, and collaboration between teams is easier. “The fact that the office supports well-being and different ways of working is directly reflected in employee satisfaction,” says Löfgren, referring to a recent staff survey in which the office received high praise.

All roads lead to Ruoholahti

As a parent who drives to work, Löfgren is especially happy that the parking garage in Ruoholahti is located right below the office. You can pull straight into the garage in the morning, completely hassle-free. At Epassi, anyone can reserve their own parking space in the garage.

“Coming and going is effortless. For anyone with a family, that is huge – you can make a quick stop at the store on the way home without moving your car.”

Ruoholahti is easily accessible by public transportation, bike, or car, making it a convenient location for many. Just a few years ago, Löfgren viewed the Ruoholahti office center as a static place, but today, he says the area is vibrant. A wide selection of restaurants and everyday services are close by, yet the city center is only a few minutes away by metro.

The recently completed renovation of the Ruohis urban block has been a hit with the entire Epassi team.

“Once a month, the entire staff heads to Elixia for a morning workout. You can even walk indoors to K-Rauta when you need something like a screwdriver,” Löfgren says with a laugh.

“I even bought new glasses here in Ruohis during my lunch break. And no one has to eat at the same place every day – unless they want to.”

Ruoholahti brings together the city, the sea, and everyday ease

A little over a year after the move, there are still no signs of second thoughts at Epassi. Encounters happen naturally at the office, where there are refreshments and plenty of space for breaks. Market Square, the sofa nooks, and the spacious meeting rooms all encourage people to gather.

“Innovation rarely happens remotely. I believe the best ideas come from teams sitting down together,” says Löfgren.

For him, Ruoholahti’s appeal isn’t just about the services, parking options, central location, or office space that accommodates their growth. The icing on the cake is the sea view on both sides of the office.

“Here, the sea and nature are right nearby. You can smell the sea in the courtyard, and in the summer, you can be in the water in no time,” Löfgren describes.

“The canal between Ruoholahti and Salmisaari is exceptional. In the summer, it’s wonderful to walk or run along it to Eiranranta. And the locker rooms and showers in our office make it easy to go for a run even in the middle of the workday.”

NIKLAS’ TOP 3 LOCAL SERVICES
The canal bank: An ideal place for a break, and a great running route right by the office.
Ruohis urban block: The renewed Ruohis has everything from eyeglasses to tools to weekend treats.
Greenfinch: The restaurant is a great new addition to Ruoholahti’s wide range of choices.
More about Ruohis
Available spaces in Ruoholahti

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