Kanavaranta’s exceptional reception service – Cordially supporting tenant companies
The Kanavaranta 1 office building, with its stunning seaside location, is an architecturally significant entity. Designed by the world-renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, the property beautifully reflects his philosophy of human-centric design: for Aalto, the essence of design lay in creating human-scale spaces that promote the well-being of their occupants.
That’s why it feels especially suitable that the property’s reception service is also known for its exceptional customer service orientation. The credit for this goes to a wonderful professional who has been working in the “Sugar-Cube” since the renovation of the office property – shaping and refining the reception concept with his warm and authentic style.
Now, Jari Toivanen from Coor Service Management talks about his work at Kanavaranta and shares some key aspects of the property’s acclaimed reception service concept.
Warm and genuine encounters brighten up the workday
In a way, the office property’s reception service is much like a business card. It upholds the high-quality image of the property while simultaneously fostering pleasant encounters for the tenants’ employees and guests.
“For me, customer orientation is always the key. I want the customers – in this case, the tenants and their guests – to feel truly welcomed and at ease. This probably goes back to my previous career as a waiter, where I worked before pursuing a career in facility management services.
Hence, I enjoy my work at the customer interface. Engaging in casual conversations comes very naturally to me, so I like meeting people in my work,” says Jari.
Seamless service – perceptive concept development
Kanavaranta’s reception service also handles tenants’ access management matters. Thus, when new employees start working in the building, Toivanen ensures them a smooth start by organizing the required keys and access tags and by briefing them about the property’s practices and services.
“There are really nice people working in Kanavaranta, so I truly enjoy coming to work in the morning. In my work, I regularly cooperate with the contact persons of office tenants, but I am also available to support the entire tenant community in their diverse matters,” describes Jari.
Toivanen’s active and development-oriented approach is also highly appreciated in the house. Toivanen explains that he draws his ideas not only from observing his surroundings but also from anticipating the needs of the tenant community.
“In my work, I constantly observe the lobby environment to pinpoint opportunities for improvement. One such practical example was the umbrella stand introduced in the lobby, where tenants can borrow an umbrella in case of unexpected rain.
I also actively consider new supplemental services to enhance the tenants’ working days. With Christmas approaching, we decided to offer, for example, a Christmas tree delivery service to the tenants to make their preparations for Christmas more convenient,” says Jari.
In addition to all this, the reception service honors Alvar Aalto’s legacy to the detail; pens are, for example, beautifully arranged in the iconic Aalto vase.
An exceptional work environment
It goes without saying that Sugar-Cube is Alvar Aalto’s internationally recognized masterpiece. That’s why it sometimes attracts the interest of Alvar Aalto enthusiasts, who also like to visit the building. Naturally, the tourists don’t have access to the office floors of tenants, but they are welcome to explore the lobby and the top floor restaurant Toppa.
For many, seeing the inside of the building is a memorable experience: the lobby with its unique marble furniture and the seaside views from Toppa’s terrace are truly without comparison.
The central location of the premises sometimes also brings about more unusual working days. As an example, Toivanen mentions the day when high-level state guests arrived at the nearby Presidential Palace, and the strict security measures could be closely observed also in Kanavaranta.
The unique atmosphere of Sugar-Cube
Toivanen praises Kanavaranta’s office property as a human-scale workspace. He also appreciates the office building’s exquisite maritime location, which he finds energizing. These, combined with the heartfelt working community, make Sugar-Cube a great place to work.
“The lobby, with its warm-toned lighting, creates a truly harmonious and inviting ambiance. The unique marble furniture, designed by a renowned artist, and the soon-to-be-completed marble artwork on the wall are unparalleled and cannot be found anywhere else. I feel privileged to be able to work here,” sums up Jari.
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