Located in the heart of Helsinki, the National Museum of Finland has played a significant role in Finnish cultural life since opening its doors to the public in 1916. Showcasing the nation's history from prehistoric times to the present, the museum reflects Finland’s architectural heritage, with design elements drawn from several historical eras. Today, this iconic landmark is undergoing the most significant construction project in its hundred-year history, which combines a new extension and a partial renovation of the historic main building, transforming the building to meet the demands of a modern museum while preserving its cultural legacy. The total value of the renovation and extension is around €98.0M.
The construction of the extension began in September 2023 and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2026. The size of the extension is approximately 5,900 square meters, with around 2,500 square meters of cultural spaces open to the public. The extension primarily comprises underground exhibition spaces connected to the existing museum building. A pavilion-like structure will emerge from the courtyard garden, providing a visible connection to the new underground spaces. The new building will provide the museum with new multi-purpose exhibition spaces, a restaurant and additional space for visitor services.
The renovation of the historic main building aims to update the building's functional, technical, and spatial solutions to meet contemporary standards. The project includes restoring the main building’s roofs and façades, upgrading the ventilation system, and remodelling office spaces. The museum’s courtyard, Halkopiha, will be enclosed with a steel-and-glass structure to create a year-round indoor space. The adjacent Vaunuvaja building will also be renovated, including the addition of a new library. The fully renewed museum complex is scheduled to reopen in spring 2027.
Jensen Hughes has been involved in these landmark projects from the early design phases. Fire safety design encompasses broad principles and small details, such as door opening buttons. In terms of fire safety principles, the extension to the National Museum is an underground construction with a large assembly space. This is particularly evident in the consideration given to evacuation safety.
The new and old underground spaces must work together seamlessly in terms of fire safety solutions. Many of these solutions are innovative and unique. We have assessed the surface layers, smoke extraction, and evacuation safety, keeping in mind the possibility of modifying the spaces with movable walls. In cooperation with the end users, we have reviewed various scenarios for using the spaces and their versatile possibilities, also considering the coming decades.
The renovation emphasizes applying current fire safety regulations to the historically significant museum's original construction solutions without compromising its historical and cultural value. For instance, the existing windows have been converted into fire windows while maintaining their century-old appearance.
The projects are being carried out in close cooperation with the Finnish Heritage Agency, architects, construction experts and specialists in the cultural sector. The aim is to strengthen the National Museum's position as a living and contemporary cultural destination that will serve both domestic and international audiences in the decades to come.