Antilooppi

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SEK swapped a large office for more flexibility in Hakaniemi

SEK’S CUSTOMIZED OFFICE SPACE
Around 700 m2 at Siltasaari 10
Lounge area, two workspaces, meeting rooms, and a private courtyard terrace
+ Flexible POOL spaces

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When SEK updated both its strategy and ways of working in 2025, the company also set out to redefine what the workplace should look like. More square metres wasn’t the answer; a smarter environment for modern creative work was. At Siltasaari 10 in Hakaniemi, SEK found a solution where flexible POOL spaces, a creative community, and the vibrant urban setting support a new way of working.

“When you walk into the lobby at Siltasaari 10 in the morning, it almost feels like arriving at an airport,” says Jaakko Rantala, CEO of SEK.

“There’s the same kind of buzz,” he continues. “You get the feeling that things are constantly happening around you.”

As one of Finland’s leading marketing agencies, SEK believes creative impact comes from the ability to see and do things differently. That’s why, in 2025, the company decided to rethink the way people work together. At the same time, finding a new office that could support the company’s strategic shift in the best way possible became increasingly important.

“SEK has been around for more than 90 years and we have over 100 employees, but we want to operate more like a smaller, agile creative studio,” Rantala says.

In practice, SEK’s new studio model means smaller teams formed around client needs, closer collaboration, and continuous mutual learning.

“We wanted a space that genuinely supports this new way of working,” Rantala says, explaining the reasons behind the move.

A new home for creative people and bold ideas – with less space but more possibilities

As SEK began building its new studio model, the company also reimagined how its office space could support everyday work. As a result, a team of more than one hundred people moved into a smaller – but smarter – office.

“We downsized from 1,300 square metres to around 700, because in today’s hybrid world of work the whole team is rarely in the office at the same time,” Rantala says.

“We were drawn to Antilooppi’s modern spaces, high-quality services, and the flexibility that the shared POOL spaces offer.”

Rantala says the goal was to create a workspace where people have more freedom to decide how and where they work.

“We wanted to build an environment that brings different people together, encourages collaboration, and allows for flexibility. We want to give people responsibility, freedom, and the ability to make their own decisions. We believe creativity grows from trust.”

Spaces designed to bring people together

Today, SEK occupies nearly an entire floor at Antilooppi’s Siltasaari 10. The office is complemented by a courtyard terrace and Antilooppi’s shared flexible workspaces and coworking areas.

The office itself is divided into different zones depending on the type of work people need to focus on throughout the day.

“About one third of our office is dedicated to a lounge area with sofas, music, and collaborative workspaces. It has a comfortable, living room-like atmosphere for spontaneous interactions,” Rantala says.

The lounge area is complemented by semi-quiet spaces for teamwork, as well as a dedicated quiet area for focused work.

“Different types of spaces create different opportunities. Throughout the day, people can choose the environment that best fits the kind of work they do or interaction they need at that moment.”

At SEK, it has become clear that many employees prefer spending time in spaces where they naturally run into colleagues more often.

“It’s been great to see how valuable those spontaneous encounters can be. That’s where creative ideas often emerge.”

Flexibility built into everyday work

Flexibility is one of the defining features of SEK’s new office.

“Antilooppi’s concept – combining dedicated office space with shared facilities – really convinced us,” Rantala says.

“If someone feels there’s too much noise around them, they can move to the POOL Library, which is designed for focused work. The whole concept is built around flexibility.”

SEK has also made active use of Siltasaari 10’s shared meeting and training facilities, as well as the larger POOL Lounge, for client events and internal gatherings.

Rantala says flexibility was one of the main reasons SEK decided to move into Antilooppi’s premises.

“Antilooppi understood the kind of workspace we were looking for and arranged exactly the right solution for us.”

That service-minded approach has also carried over into everyday life after the move.

“No matter what kind of issue you bring to the lobby services, it gets sorted. With Antilooppi, you never hear ‘that’s not possible’. It’s always more about figuring out how to make it happen,” Rantala says.

Hakaniemi: creative people and creative culture come together

Hakaniemi feels lively even on an ordinary weekday. Trams pass through the area, people stop by cafés before work, bowls of hot porridge are served at the market square, and it’s not uncommon to run into familiar faces on the streets.

That atmosphere is exactly what made SEK feel so at home in the neighbourhood – so much so, that it never seriously considered moving elsewhere.

“We really enjoy Hakaniemi. There’s always something happening here, but just around the block you’ll find a quiet spot by the sea.”

Rantala says Hakaniemi has increasingly become a hub for creative industries in recent years.

“You can clearly see that creative companies and creative culture have gravitated here. At Siltasaari 10, there are media agencies, communications firms, and other creative businesses. It’s become something of a creative hub for Hakaniemi,” he says.

As a result, it’s not unusual to bump into familiar clients in the lobby or discover that collaborators are working under the same roof.

“We often hear from clients how nice it is to come visit here when you see so many familiar faces in the lobby,” Rantala says.

“The more efficient use of space has worked extremely well for us. More companies should be bold enough to try this kind of concept, where you can operate successfully with much smaller offices.”

Jaakko Rantala
CEO
SEK
JAAKKO’S TOP 3 LOCAL SPOTS
Nori Sushibar: Authentic, excellent value-for-money sushi bowls.
Kahvisiskot: Morning porridge at Hakaniemi Market Square. Kahvisiskot serves traditional rice porridge all year round.
Hakaniemi waterfront: A short walk from the office takes you to a quiet stretch of waterfront, with trains passing along the opposite shore.

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