Pikku-Finlandia relocated to northern Helsinki as new school space

The Pikku-Finlandia building, originally constructed as temporary space for Finlandia Hall, has been moved to the Tapulikaupunki district in northern Helsinki and will now serve as an extension of the Helsinki Media Upper Secondary School, Yle reports.

The school requires additional space due to a growing student body. The building will house classrooms, group work areas, a kitchen, and a cafeteria.

Relocated during winter via special transport, the structure was moved in modules up to 18 meters long and weighing as much as 18 tonnes each. The exterior remains largely unchanged, retaining its large windows and exposed tree trunks. Interior work is ongoing, with partitions added to create smaller teaching spaces.

Originally erected in Töölönlahti in early 2022, Pikku-Finlandia previously functioned as a multipurpose event venue, hosting events such as the 2023 Finlandia Prize for Literature and a 2024 election monitoring event for presidential candidate Alexander Stubb.

Architect Jaakko Torvinen designed the building as part of his thesis at Aalto University, with the project marking the start of his career. The structure’s modular design allowed for its relocation.