Helsinki’s ugliest building to get makeover

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The City of Helsinki plans to perform cosmetic surgery on the colossal state office building which was built in Hakaniemenranta in the 1970s. The office block has repeatedly been chosen as the ugliest building in the city.
     
The closed state office building will become accessible to all Helsinki residents after the opening of a restaurant on the street level, together with a long terrace facing the sea. The residents will also have access to the exhibition premises, the bookstore selling publications produced by the Finnish National Board of Education (FNBE), and to the information desk of the Centre for International Mobility CIMO.
     
The government-owned Senate Properties will be in charge of the renovation project, which will be launched at the turn of the year. The office block will be reopened after the facade of the building has been rebuilt in the summer of 2008.
      According to Project Manager Kari Ristolainen of Senate Properties, the estimated costs of the renovation are in excess of EUR 20 million.
      The aim of Senate Properties is to turn the building into a prime example of how a concrete building from the 1970s is to be repaired and refurbished.


Links:
  Senate Properties

Helsingin Sanomat