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 and Jarkko Salminen, CEO. Other PES Partners are Pekka Mäkelä, Sami Lauritsalo, Kai Lindvall and Martin Lukasczyk in Finland and Jyri Eskola and Lai Linli in China.

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