About us
PES-Architects is an award-winning architecture and design office based in Helsinki, Finland and Shanghai, China.
We seek to design architecture that encourages encounters and interaction between people and cultures. Through a highly collaborative approach with clients and end users, we create spaces where the harmony of form and functionality ensures sustainable, human-centred solutions for the future. We believe that architecture should not only be functional, but also evoke emotions and create experiences.
Our architectural vision is comprehensive, extending from urban planning to the smallest interior details. The user is always at the heart of the design. As architects, our task is to understand the needs of the client and users as well as the requirements of the environment. We are inspired by challenge and committed to finding unique, optimal solutions to projects at any scale.
Our story
PES-Architects’ history goes back over 55 years. The company was co-founded in 1968 by architect, Professor Pekka Salminen, originally as Koivisto-Salminen-Siivola Architects KSS (1968-1983), later Pekka Salminen Architects (1983–2006). Since 2006, we have been PES-Arkkitehdit Oy / PES-Architects Ltd.
Our Chinese subsidiary PES-Architects Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd was established in 2011.
Who we are
Our Senior Partners are Tuomas Silvennoinen, principal designer and Chair of the Board; Jarkko Salminen, CEO; and Pekka Salminen, our founding partner.
PES-Architects currently employs about 70 professionals representing over 10 different nationalities and a wide range of expertise. Meet our team here.
Our Helsinki main office is located in the vibrant Kalasatama district. Our original timber studio and atelier in Marjaniemi, Helsinki, was built in 1976 and served us up to 2023. Read more about the studio here.
Our work
Our projects are often public buildings for culture or other civic functions, transportation terminals, or, increasingly, complex mixed-use and urban developments that may include a multipurpose arena alongside residences, offices, and educational and hospitality facilities.
We also design high-quality private residences and demanding renovation and alteration projects.
Interior design is an essential part of our architecture and often encompasses graphic and furniture design. Our interior team also undertakes independent projects, with a special focus on workplace design.
Sustainable design
We seek to design architecture and interiors that are both technically and visually durable and fit for their purpose, adaptable when necessary. Alterations, adaptive reuse and renovations are also central to sustainable construction and increasing the lifespan of buildings.
We collaborate with expert organisations such as VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in developing new ecological materials and technologies.
We are founding signatories of Finnish Architects Declare and a signatory of Finnish Interior Architects & Interior Designers Declare, part of the international Built Environment Declares Climate and Biodiversity Emergency.
Over the years, we have received numerous awards for our work and participated successfully in competitions in Finland, China and globally.
Selected awards and recognitions
Docomomo Finland, selected into register of modern Finnish architectural masterpieces, Lahti City Theatre, 2023
Northern Finland construction award (Pohjois-Suomen paras rakennusteko), Oulu Courthouse, 2023
World Interiors News WIN Awards, Workspace Interiors, Silver, OP Financial Group Innovation and training centre, 2023
World Architecture Festival (WAF) INSIDE finalist, OP Financial Group Innovation and training centre, 2023
The International Architecture Awards by The Chicago Athenaeum, Government Buildings, Winner (2021); Culture and Museums, Winner (2022), Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre
Architecture MasterPrize, Winner, Cultural Architecture, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2021
Iconic Awards: Innovative Architecture, German Design Council, Winner, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2021
Global Future Design Awards 2021, Cultural Architecture, Winner, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2021
The Architectural Society of China Awards, 2019-2020: Public Architecture, Interior Design, Facade Technology, 1st prize, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2021
China Civil Engineering Zhan Tianyou Award, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2021
Beijing Survey and Design Industry Excellent Architecture and Engineering Design, Public
Architecture, 1st prize; Cultural Architecture, 2nd prize, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2021
A’Design Award, Platinum Winner, Architecture, Building and Structure Design Category, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2021
Muse Design Awards: Architectural Design of the Year; Cultural Architecture, Platinum Winner; Landmarks, Platinum Winner; Sustainable Living, Gold Winner, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2021
Paris Design Awards, Gold Prize, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2021
Asian Design Prize, Grand Prize, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2021
IDA Awards Silver Winner 2020, Architecture, Mix-Use Architectural designs, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2021
Finnish Association of Civil Engineers’ RIL Award, Helsinki Airport development programme, 2021
Finnish Steel Structure of the Year, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2020
China Construction Engineering Luban Prize (National Prime-quality Project), Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2020
Outstanding Property Award London, Platinum Winner, Architectural Design, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2020
Architizer A+Award, Transportation Interiors, Jury Winner, West Terminal 2, 2020
China Construction Steel Structure Golden Award, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2019
Asia Pacific Property Awards, Best Public Service Architecture in China, Five-Star award, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2019
World Interiors News WIN Awards, Gold: Cinemas, Theatres and Music Venues category; Bronze: Cultural Venues category (opera hall), Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2019
World Architecture News WAN Awards, Silver: Facades category; Bronze: Waterfront category, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2019
Finnish Metal Façade of the Year, Special Mention, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, 2019
Architizer A+ Awards, Special Mention, Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre and Icon Yunduan Tower, 2019
China Construction Metal Structure Golden Award. Icon Yunduan Tower, 2019
The Architectural Society of China Award, 2017-2018 Facade Category, 2nd prize, Icon Yunduan Tower, 2020
Kehäkukka Architecture Award, City of Vantaa, nominee, Helsinki Airport Aukio expansion, 2019
Sichuan Survey and Design Industry Excellent Architecture and Engineering Design, China, 1st prize, Icon Yunduan Tower, 2018
EU Mies van der Rohe Award, nominee, West Terminal 2, 2018
ICONIC AWARDS, Winner, Innovative Architecture, West Terminal 2, 2018
German Design Award, Winner, West Terminal 2, 2018
Architectural Society of China Award, Technology Service Center of Wuhan Economic Development Zone, 2018
Hubei Survey and Design Industry Excellent Architecture and Engineering Design, China, 1st prize, Technology Service Center of Wuhan Economic Development Zone, 2013
Finnish Steel Structure of the Year Award, West Terminal 2, 2017
Finnish Interior Lighting Award, West Terminal 2, 2017
City of Helsinki Council on Disability Accessibility Award, West Terminal 2, 2017
Finnish Association of Civil Engineers’ RIL Award, shared 2nd place, West Terminal 2, 2017
World Architecture Festival (WAF), finalist, West Terminal 2, 2017
Helsinki City Building Control Commission’s Rose for Building Award, nominee, West Terminal 2, 2017
Architectural Review MIPIM Future Project special award for Innovation, Nanjing Sino-Finnish Cooperation Centre, 2017
Asia Pacific Property Awards, Best Public Service Architecture Asia Pacific and China 2014-2015, Wuxi Grand Theatre, 2014
China High-Quality Projects (2013-2014), Wuxi Grand Theatre, 2014
Gold Award of China Steel Structure, Wuxi Grand Theatre, 2013
China Lighting Award, Wuxi Grand Theatre, 2013
CIDA China Interior Design Award, Creative Design Award, Wuxi Grand Theatre, 2013
Shanghai Excellent Project Design Award, Wuxi Grand Theatre, 2013
Architizer A+Award, Jury Winner, Wuxi Grand Theatre, 2013
City of Wuxi Architecture Award, Wuxi Grand Theatre, 2012
China National Interior Decoration Association, Main Design Award and Chinese bamboo decoration design, Award for Outstanding Contribution, Wuxi Grand Theatre, 2012
German Architecture Prize, Marienkirche Concert Hall, 2003
German Concrete Architecture Prize, Marienkirche Concert Hall, 2003
Architecture Prize of the state of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, Marienkirche Concert Hall, 2002
Balthasar-Neumann Prize, Germany, Honourary Mention, Marienkirche Concert Hall, 2002
Finnish Concrete Structure Award, Marienkirche Concert Hall, 2001
Finnish Steel Structure Award, Helsinki Airport, 1999
Finnish Concrete Structure Award, Helsinki Airport parking facility, 1994
Finnish Concrete Structure Award, Lahti City Theatre, 1982
Finnish Concrete Structure Award, Lahti Sports Centre grandstand, 1977
Personal recognitions
Pekka Salminen
World Green Design International Contribution Award, 2018
China International Interior Design Festival Golden Seat Architectural and Interior Design Master Award, 2013
Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, 2012
Order of the Croatian Star, Medal for Merits in Culture, 2003
Finnish State Prize for the Arts, 2002
Member of the Finnish Academy of Technical Sciences, 2002-
Tuomas Silvennoinen
Finnish Glass Builder of the Year, 2019
Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, 2015
Competitions
Wuhan New Opera, China, 2nd prize, 2023
Qingdao New Opera, China, 2nd prize, 2023
Kaitaa parking facility, Espoo, invited competition 1st prize, 2022
Ferry Terminal Turku, invited competition, 1st prize, 2022
Turku Music Hall, two-phase tendering process, 1st prize, 2022
XiAn Archeology Museum, China, 1st prize, 2022
Nanchang TCM Museum Center, China, 2nd prize, 2022
Shanghai Submarine Museum, China, invited competition, 1st prize, 2021
OP Financial Group innovation and training centre, invited competition, 1st prize, 2021
Nanchang Poly Grand Theatre, China, invited competition, 1st prize, 2021
Wumart South Technology Headquarter, Shenzhen, 4th prize + later commission, 2021
City of Vantaa mixed-used building Kielotie 13, tendering process, 1st prize, 2021
Jinan Huarun Theater Interior Design, China, 1st prize, 2020
National Museum of Finland, open international competition, 3rd prize, 2019
Xingtai Grand Theatre, China, 2nd prize, 2019
Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank Campus, 2nd prize, 2019
Turku Railyard urban development, invited competition, 1st prize, 2018
Tuusula school and multipurpose building, open competition, 3rd prize, 2018
Chengdu South City Cultural Centre, China, 2nd prize, 2018
Qianhai International Financial Exchange Center, Shenzhen, China, 4th prize, 2018
Guangzhou Bank Offices, China, 2nd prize, 2019
State Grid Fengxian Offices, China, 1st prize, 2017
Nanjing Sino-Finnish Cooperation Centre, China 1st prize, 2016
Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, China 1st prize, 2013
Chengdu Photography Museum, China, 3rd prize, 2013
Wuxi International School, China 1st prize, 2011
Runke Technology Office Park, Lianyungang City, 1st prize, 2011 (with local partner UDG)
Nanjiao Area, Beijing, China, 1st prize, 2010
Chengdu C9 block, China, 1st prize, 2009 (with local partner CSWADI)
Wuxi Grand Theatre, China, 1st prize, 2008 (with local partners SIADR and UDG)
Nanjing Electronic Research Centre, China, 1st prize, 2006 (with local partner UDG)
Shenzhen Dameisha Vanke Headquarter, China, 2nd prize, 2005
Wuxi City Museum Complex, China, 2nd prize, 2005
Shimao Splendid River, Wuhan, China, 2nd prize, 2005
Wuhan Tianhe Airport, Wuhan, 2nd prize, 2004
Vanke Headquarter Project, The Peak, Shenzhen, 1st prize, 2004
Administration and Culture Center of Wuhan Economic & Technological Development zone (WEDZ) / New Area of Dong Feng Automobile Company, China, 1st prize, 2003 (with local partner CSADI)
Marienkirche Concert Hall, Neubrandenburg, invited competition, 1st prize, 1996
Kronprinzenbrücke memorial bridge, Berlin, Germany, 3rd prize, 1991 (with Romuald Loegler)
Finnish Science Centre Heureka, shared 1st prize, 1986
Lahti City Theatre, 1st prize, 1973
Santa Claus Land, 1st prize, 1969
Raisio sports and recreation centre, 1st prize, 1968