Join us on the site of The Whale
In June 2026, construction of The Whale began in Andenes. After eleven years of planning and development, the long-awaited project had finally moved from vision to reality. In November, the first roof beam was set in place - marking a major milestone in the building’s journey.
We are on the site of The Whale, right beside the Andenes Lighthouse, in the far north of Nordland county in Norway. The historic lighthouse dating from 1859 is about to get a new neighbour.
It’s 12 November 2025. Camilla Ilmoni is Head of Sales, Marketing & PR at The Whale. She runs her hand over the very first of 36 steel beams that will support the roof of The Whale. Just six months have passed since the Chair of The Whale, Benn Eidissen, and the Mayor of Andøy, Kjell Are Johansen, had a symbolic ceremony right here to cut the first sod. “Look, it’s the same colour as the lighthouse,” smiles Camilla. The deep red H beam creates a strong contrast against the snow-covered ground and the blueish-grey sea just beyond. Camilla has worked for The Whale since conceiving the idea in the autumn of 2014.
“I have sort of forgotten everything else I was supposed to do in Andenes today. I’m just looking so forward to seeing this. It’s big. We have been working for this for so long. I’m so touched – and very proud,” says the Finnish marine biologist.
Roger Pettersen is Project Manager for Construction at The Whale. He is proud too.
“Nothing resembling this has ever been built. We call this the world’s most beautiful seaside property. Look at this,” he says, gesturing towards the sea and sky, which is a shade of orange in the beautiful November light. There is a spectacular view towards the rugged mountain peaks to the southwest: Bleiksklæva,” says Roger.
It’s just after 1pm, but the daylight is already starting to disappear. The sun will not reappear here until 13 January – and on that day we need to climb to the top of the lighthouse to see the first rays of sunlight. The orange has turned to grey and snow is starting to fall on the site.
“The fact that we are constructing this building out here, with the ocean as our closest neighbour, creates extremely special requirements for the construction process.”Roger Pettersen, Project Manager for Construction at The Whale
The company he chose to construct this demanding building is one of the most renowned in Norway: HENT from Trondheim. The person keeping track of the machines and people on the site is Jørgen Letnes.
“The building itself will be quite exceptional. It looks like a whale fin,” says Jørgen Letnes, HENT’s project manager.
“It will quite simply be a stunning building. It will have a unique glass facade facing the ocean to the west. The glass panels are being made right now in Lithuania. A large part of the building will be the curved roof arching over the more than 3,000 square metres that will form the base area of The Whale,” says Jørgen.
“Today we are starting to install steel. It will be full steam ahead until the summer of 2027, when The Whale will open to the public.”
The person responsible for the steel used for the building is Rudi Jørgensen from Trondheim Stål. The site here on the northern tip of Andøya is not foreign to him. He feels right at home.
“Yes, I grew up here in Bleik,” he says in pure Andøy dialect. Although he has lived for the past 25 years in Trondheim, he has retained the local dialect.
Rudi says the project involves 450 tonnes of steel. The red roof beams are being brought by truck from Poland, where they are being specially made for The Whale.
“There is a total of approximately 1,450 metres of main beams, with the longest of which is 57 metres. Even though they are divided up for transport, the loads are still very long. Yesterday, a truck with a total length of 27 metres arrived here,” says Rudi, smiling.
When did you first hear about The Whale?
“I heard about it a long time ago, about 10 years ago, I think.”
Did you think you would be involved in building it?
“No, absolutely not.”
But here you are.
“Yes, here I am. This is a job Trondheim Stål really wanted, so it’s great. This is a prestigious job for us. This is a project we will be able to brag about when it’s finished. There will only be one building like this in the entire world.”
“It’s exciting for us at Trondheim Stål. The people at HENT say so too and they are among the biggest in Norway,” says Rudi, a proud local from Bleik.
A visit to Ravnholmen
We end the day with a trip out to Ravnholmen. The small island off the coast of Sløyken, where The Whale is being built, will become part of the centre’s outdoor area. Camilla Ilmoni accompanies us over to the islet across the newly constructed breakwater.
“I feel like a young child exploring. I run from one peak to that rock. There is even a whale skeleton here – a skull of a sperm whale, so there is a lot to explore,” says Camilla.
“I was surprised by how big it is. You get curious and happy out here, and I see Andenes from a completely new angle. I have seen Ravnholmen from Sløyken and the lighthouse many times, but coming out here and walking along the paths opens up a whole new landscape,” says Camilla enthusiastically.
After living in Andenes for so long, Camilla finds its strange to finally visit a place that she has so has only seen from a distance.
“I think many people will be surprised. Andenes residents and visitors alike will be surprised to experience Ravnholmen. I think this is a place many people will go to during the summer and winter to enjoy the nature and wonderful view,” says Camilla.
The first beam rises
We return in the evening. The tall telescopic crane extends so far that the crane operator must be in constant contact with the control tower at Andenes Airport. The crane must be lowered every time a plane lands or takes off.
The last plane has landed, so the crane is coming up again. The very first beam is now in place. It’s also in two parts. One end of the first part rests on a column in the middle of the building, while the other end is attached to the wall that already frames the building. An hour later, the second part of the first beam is in place. That means there are only 35 steel beams to go.
Behind the scenes towards opening
