Located in the center of Helsinki, Finlandia Hall is one of Finland's most famous architectural landmarks. This iconic cultural hub—known for hosting events, galas, conferences, and political gatherings—was designed by the world-renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The renovation project, which started in 2022 and was completed in November 2024, improved the accessibility and energy efficiency of the building and created new spaces for restaurants and shops, among other things. The overall project was recognized with an architecture award from the international design magazine Wallpaper.
Jensen Hughes was involved in this unique project to ensure improved fire and exit safety. We also ensured that these improvements and alterations to the existing structure were compatible with the building's architectural and cultural characteristics.
The renovation of the Finlandia Hall required a good understanding of the structural characteristics and technical requirements of the listed building. We carried out the fire safety design in close cooperation with other designers and the client.
The renovation of a protected building meant that the fire safety solutions had to fit into the existing environment without significantly changing the original architecture. Collaborating with other stakeholders, we ensured that the solutions implemented met both legal requirements and heritage conservation requirements. In practice, structural fire safety was improved by implementing new fire compartments to limit the spread of fire and improve fire safety systems' performance. For the new premises, smoke extraction was ensured in line with modern requirements.
The renovation provides a safer, more versatile setting for domestic and international events. Finlandia Hall's renovation was a challenging but rewarding project that allowed us to use our expertise in developing fire safety in historic buildings.
The result is a safe, functional culture and events center that respects the original architecture and will serve citizens and visitors for decades to come. We take pride in our involvement in Alvar Aalto's Finlandia Hall, which won the Design Awards 2025.