Renovation of Finnish Parliament House to be completed for Finland’s 100th anniversary celebrations

The Parliament House, completed in 1931, has not undergone a complete renovation before, so the renovation now covers both the interior and the outside. The renovation will completely renew building technology, water and sewer pipes, heating systems, ventilation and safety technology, as well as the roof and the façades of four courtyards. In addition to this, all windows will be repaired, the main staircase will be renovated and the inner surface structures will be conserved. New premises will also be excavated under the Parliament House. The main contractor of the project is Lemminkäinen. “We designed and erected weather shelters and scaffolding on the façade and interior of the Parliament House. Such a comprehensive project is very challenging, but we have done thorough and professional work,” says Liitomaa.

MPs made room for scaffolding

More than 80 years after its completion, the Parliament House was emptied of lawmakers for the complete renovation. Instead of decision-makers, the Chamber now has the high scaffolding of Telinekataja, which allows us to check the condition of the ceiling and to renovate it safely. The high surfaces and decorative paintings can be renovated with the help of scaffolding. “Of course, there have been challenges in erecting indoor scaffolding. Getting the equipment inside is already difficult, but with good planning and cooperation with the customer, we have defeated our challenges,” Says Liitomaa. New technical solutions have been used to enable the project. On the KS rail, the undercoat, which was up doubled at the top of the Chamber, was attached to the lower beam of the roof truss for further assurance. The double cover of the façade, on the other hand, allowed for double heating.

The historical monument in the heart of Helsinki is a unique site

The renovation of a building of national and economic value is not the same as ordinary renovation projects. “Of course, we have worked on protected buildings before. What differs from previous projects is that the Parliament House has been protected at different levels in its different parts. However, our personnel were well familiar with the building's requirements,” says Liitomaa, describing working on a monument that is historically important to the building. “For example, plywood boards are used for protection. The scaffolding is attached to the seams in the granite, so there will be no trace of the performed work on the façade of the granite palace. We have security clearances in many locations, and access control is a standard practice on our construction sites. When it comes to such an important project, safety issues are, of course, even more important,” says Liitomaa.

Liitomaa raises the key to the success of this unique project. The design department of Telinekataja, in cooperation with the client has done an excellent job. “Several loads of building materials were brought to the Parliament House every day, because there was hardly any storage space and a lot of scaffolding was needed. The scaffolding covers a space of approximately 100,000 cubic metres in volume. Logistical challenges have required careful planning when the site is located in the middle of a congested capital city,” says Liitomaa.