Oulu City Hall reopens after extensive €29.4 million renovation

The extensive renovation of Oulu’s City Hall, which began three years ago with a budget of €30 million, has officially welcomed city employees back as of mid-September. Despite exceeding both budget and timelines, Mikko Salmi, the city’s Director of Communications, Events, and Marketing, expresses satisfaction with the results.

In the past, renovations focused on surface fixes—adding paint and shoring up structures—but this time, the project delved deep into the building’s foundations. The former grand hall has been completely refurbished from floor to ceiling, with crystal chandeliers now illuminating the space. The previously fragile floor was also repaired, alleviating concerns that arose fifty years ago when President Urho Kekkonen inadvertently initiated a dance on it, putting its stability in question.

Post-renovation, dancing in the hall is worry-free, prompting the city to host a dance event during the opening week. However, the project’s journey has been complex, with many unexpected challenges and some pleasant surprises, such as the discovery of an old salmon-themed glass relief hidden within the walls and a wine cellar beneath the building.

The total renovation costs soared to €29.4 million, surpassing an earlier estimate of €20 million, largely due to rising prices and material shortages linked to the conflict in Ukraine. The building also required more extensive repairs than initially anticipated to ensure safe and healthy use.

Looking ahead, the renovated City Hall will be more accessible to the public, with an opening week beginning on October 7, culminating in a special wedding day for twelve couples.