Anka and Aalto at Finlandia Hall

Canadian crooner Paul Anka opened the autumn season at Finlandia Hall in Helsinki this August. The famous congress and event centre designed by legendary Finnish architect Alvar Aalto is now looking ahead to the future as it plans new extensions.

The expansion of Finlandia Hall will honour the legacy of Alvar Aalto. The new extension will be completed in spring 2011.

"Finlandia Hall can host a wide range of meetings, congresses and concerts. Even for the smallest event, the customer always enjoys the benefits of a major international venue," claims Managing Director Auni Palo.

Completed in 1971 according to the detailed design of Alvar Aalto, Finlandia Hall itself is a work of art and a popular architectural attraction. In fact, the building is one of Helsinki's most popular tourist sights.

"Finlandia Hall's location in the centre of Helsinki in a beautiful park next to the water is ideal. Everything that our capital city has to offer is nearby. The building's unique architecture also continues to attract customers," Palo adds.

Expanding facilities

Within a couple of years Finlandia Hall will offer even more versatile and unique facilities. In spring 2011 a new extension will be opened housing over 3000 square metres of conference, exhibition and banqueting space.

"The extension will improve our ability to offer even more versatile facilities for hosting congresses and other events," Palo says.

The entire area surrounding Finlandia Hall is also undergoing development. Finlandia Park will combine several landmark buildings in Helsinki offering world-class culture. In addition to Finlandia Hall, the park will encompass the Finnish National Opera, the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and the new Music Centre.

Each year Finlandia Hall attracts around 350,000 visitors, just over half of whom are corporate guests and congress delegates. Finlandia Hall hosted almost twice the number of international meetings and concerts last year than in the previous year.