06.10.2025
After four and a half years of construction, Kapitel’s most complex development to date, the Arter quarter, has been completed in the heart of Tallinn, with a total investment exceeding 160 million euros. The business quarter will serve as a daily working environment for nearly 3,000 people, and is home to Estonia’s first office towers to receive the international BREEAM New Construction Excellent sustainability certificate.
“Arter quarter is the most complex and largest development in Kapitel’s history in terms of investment. Construction lasted approximately 4.5 years – longer than an Olympic cycle – and, in terms of collective effort, comparable to a top sporting achievement. Thousands of people contributed to its completion and are all worthy of recognition. The 28-storey tower is a unique building in Kapitel’s portfolio due to its height and we hope the entire quarter will enrich Tallinn’s urban environment,” said Taavi Ojala, CEO of Kapitel.
“We are pleased that so many reputable companies have chosen Arter quarter as their home,” he added. The quarter offers a total of 44,500 m² of rental space. Estonia’s tallest office building – 28 storeys – is now the headquarters of Swedbank Estonia. The other buildings are home to a variety of office tenants and an apartment hotel. The quarter also features restaurants, a bookstore, beauty and wellness services, as well as a gym, swimming pool, and rooftop terrace exclusively for tenants. A publicly accessible atrium hosts free exhibitions, and the adjacent urban park adds greenery to the city.
“In developing Arter, we followed the principles of the 5-minute city – connecting office spaces with essential daily services to save Arter’s workers several hours each week. This is a key part of a modern, high-quality working environment,” noted Allan Remmelkoor, Project Director of Arter quarter.
Arter quarter is the first office complex in Estonia to receive the international BREEAM New Construction Excellent certificate. The assessment considers a building’s energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, user experience, and sustainability across its entire lifecycle.
The buildings are nearly zero-energy structures, equipped with environmentally friendly energy solutions. 305 energy piles supply around 30% of the quarter’s heating and 70% of its cooling needs, with the rest covered by district heating and cooling.
The architect of the quarter is Martin Aunin, with interior architecture created by Arhitekt11 and ArtAku Interior Architecture. The general contractor for the entire development was Merko Ehitus Eesti.
“For Merko, Arter was an extraordinary project – both in terms of scale and engineering complexity. Managing such a demanding construction site required over 30 of our engineers daily, and in total around 3,500 people were involved. Arter is centred around user wellbeing and forward-looking solutions, with a clear focus on creating a functional and high-quality urban space. A large part of Estonia’s construction sector was engaged, and the knowledge gained from Arter will benefit future developments as well,” said Jaan Mäe, CEO of Merko Ehitus Eesti.
In addition to the buildings, a new Veski Street was constructed and a public park was created on the site of the former Härjapea riverbed. Imanta Street was also upgraded, and with the opening of the quarter, the public transport network was enhanced – a new bus stop is located directly beside the building.
Construction Facts:
- Construction period: February 2021 – September 2025 (1637 days)
- Rental space: 44,500 m²
- Tallest tower height: 111 m
- Total workforce involved: 3,334 people
- Excavation depth at start of construction: 13.5 m
- Soil removed: approx. 6,000 truckloads / 80,000 m³
- Concrete used: approx. 100,000 tonnes / 2,000 truckloads
- Glass facade area: 3 hectares (equal to 4–5 football fields)
- Parking spaces: approx. 400
- Indoor bike parking: 115 spaces with changing and shower facilities
- Public space additions: New Veski Street, upgraded Imanta Street, public park on Härjapea riverbed