Article categories: Archive News
City invites residents to visit Hallintotalo (Administration Building)
Published: 5.11.2021
Updated: 11.11.2021
Have you already had a peek at how our brand new, stately administration building looks after its major renovation? If not, now would be a great opportunity to do so, as we invite residents to visit our magnificent, freshly renovated Hallintotalo premises on Saturday 13 November between 10:00 and 14:00.
Explore the open spaces at your leisure. The first visitors to arrive are also promised a free durable fruit bag. Inside, you can find a happiness corner where tips are provided on how to increase wellbeing as well as treats for those with a sweet tooth.
On the same day, 13 November, a national archives day has been celebrated in Finland since 2002, which is organised in co-operation with the Nordic National Archives. The purpose of the day is to bring the archives to the attention of the public and to emphasise the role archives play as preservers and promoters of a free Nordic society. The common Nordic theme for Archives Day 2021 is Children in the Archives. In celebration, the central archive in the basement of the administration building will display documents related to childcare and schooling, such as school photographs, in which pupils, teachers and school buildings can hopefully be recognised by the public.
– It is worth visiting our archive, as there is a lot to learn about the new and interesting history of our city, says the City of Vaasa’s Administrative Manager, Marjo Mäki-Krekola.
Decision-making centre
The building located at Vaasanpuistikko 10 was designed by Vaasa County Architect C. A. Setterberg and built in 1862 by pharmacist Hermann Johan Lindebäck as both a pharmacy and his family’s home. The house was expanded in 1930, and since then it has served as the headquarters of the City of Vaasa’s Administration. The building has undergone a total renovation, which was completed in November 2020. Rumour has it that the pharmacist’s mother still haunts the building to this day.
About a hundred city employees had to leave the building in February when the renovation work started. Among those affected were the city’s top leadership, personnel, financial and communications services, the registry and the central archive. The new facilities have been built with efficiency in mind. Today there are now 109 workstations in the house, which is twice as many more than before the renovation.
The city council and the city board will also meet at the administration building once the corona situation has abated. The city council has the highest authority to decide on matters common to city residents. The door to the council chamber is also open, so you can also peek inside the decision-making centre on open day.
– I am pleased that we can finally invite residents in to look at this beautiful historic building. Hopefully, as many people as possible will be able to get to know the building and celebrate Archives Day at the same time, says the director of the City of Vaasa’s Central Administration Jari Karjalainen.
Entrance to the Administration Building on open day is from the main door on the Vaasanpuistikko side of the building. Visitors are encouraged to wear face masks, which are also distributed free of charge on site.