Helsinki City Hall

The City Hall was designed by C.L. Engel as a hotel in 1833, the building has been the City Hall since the 1930s. The Helsinki coat-of-arms can be seen on the tympanum. With the exception of the facade, it was completely rebuilt in 1967-1970 under the architect Aarno Ruusuvuori.

Completed in 1833, the building originally served as Hotel Seurahuone and was an important cultural facility hosting many premieres. The hotel was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel who also designed the major buildings around the nearby Senate Square. The city purchased the building in 1901 and, after the hotel moved out in 1913, renovated it as a city hall.

Following an architectural competition the City Hall was radically remodeled by architect Aarno Ruusuvuori in 1965–70, replacing many of the old classical interiors and building modern glass-facaded insertions.