The renovation of Finlandia Hall was done with respect for the vision of legendary architect and designer Alvar Aalto.
When renovating historical and protected buildings, it is crucial to preserve the building's values and cultural heritage. Our challenge here was to renovate Finlandia Hall so that everything would look the same as before the renovation, while meeting modern standards for public access and climate impact.
Demanding project by a team of experts
We had many experts on our team who already had experience in renovating valuable heritage properties, such as Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium a few years back.
With Finlandia Hall, we had an extensive and interesting challenge. For example, we had to remove and replace marble façades, and restore old timber ceiling elements after installing HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) systems. Energy efficiency was improved by replacing windows and insulating the outer shell.
Worn surfaces and furniture were replaced, while retaining the look of the originals.
Inside the building, we restored worn surfaces and furniture. New technical solutions were designed so that they did not alter the historical appearance or architectural details – not an easy thing to do in a building that was not originally designed for modern standards.
I can illustrate the scale of the challenge with a few numbers: we installed 340 kilometers of electrical and data cables, 25 kilometers of water and sewer pipes, and 8 kilometers of ventilation ducts.
A 3D virtual model of the building created through laser scanning helped with planning. The modeling helped us plan routes for new pipes, electrical cabling and ventilation ducts so that they could be placed inside old structures, for example above ceilings or behind wall surfaces.
Another challenge was the need to find room for additional technical and HVAC equipment. This was partly solved by constructing new underground technical spaces to house large ventilation systems.
Renovating with sustainability in mind
The modernized spaces in the main building are more energy-efficient than before, thanks to new windows and improved insulation in the outer shell. The building now also features heat recovery and solar power systems.
As part of the renovation, we restored around 2,150 lighting fixtures. Many were fitted with energy-efficient LED technology, enabling more versatile use and control of lighting.
Classical lamps were upgraded with modern LED technology.
Restored elements also included columns covered with strip ceramic tiles and wall tiling. The brass trims were restored without losing the patina they had developed over the decades.
Hundreds of original doors and windows were also restored. One of the most unusual conservation tasks involved interior doors covered with fabric made from horsehair. Fortunately, we were able to find a conservator in Finland who could renew this unique surface.
Another important aspect was improving accessibility to meet today's standards, including new elevator connections that facilitate movement for visitors and staff.
By focusing on the extensive restoration of original materials, we were able to improve resource efficiency on the project. And of course, renovation of old buildings means less embodied carbon when compared to new buildings. It is a win-win for our cultural heritage and our environment.
Trust among parties essential for good cooperation
The renovation of Finlandia Hall is the City of Helsinki's largest single cultural investment so far this century. Partly because of this, there was a particular emphasis on collaboration between different parties throughout the project.
In addition to the City of Helsinki, the main stakeholders were the end users (the tenant and operator of Finlandia), designers and contractors. The work was also guided by the Helsinki building control authorities, the Finnish Heritage Agency and the Alvar Aalto Foundation.
Collaboration methods and platforms are crucial in a project of this size, and a rapid flow of relevant information is key to a successful outcome. We and the other parties built trust in various ways, such as through workshops and regular informal discussion sessions.
We also met on site every week with the Finnish Heritage Agency, which guided the project team towards its desired outcome. The customer monitored the budget, schedule and quality closely throughout the project.
The customer and visitors to Finlandia Hall are pleased with the renovations.
We handed over Finlandia Hall to the customer two weeks ahead of schedule. Our customer and the end users are also pleased with the results and have given us excellent feedback.
And the best thing is that Finlandia Hall’s magnificent spaces can now play host to important events once again. It has long been Finland’s most popular venue for conferences, celebrations and concerts, hosting 800 events annually attracting over 200,000 visitors every year. The aim now is to double visitor numbers in the years ahead.
My colleagues and I are proud of being part of restoring and renewing this Finnish landmark, working with our partners to bring new life to a unique building that means so much to so many people.
