Tampere City Central Office Building

The Tampere City Central Office Building in July 2009

The Tampere City Central Office Building (Finnish: Tampereen keskusvirastotalo; the so-called "White House"[1]) is an office building in Tampere, Finland, located on the edge of Tampere Central Square and the city's administrative center. Among other things, the council hall is located there.[2]

The council hall of the City Council of Tampere

The office building was designed by architect Aarne Ervi. It was built in two phases: the first, the southern part was completed in 1967 and the northern extension in 1975.[2] The building is protected cultural property by a town plan in 2009.[3] Opposite the office building is Frenckell’s former factory property, which is also used by the city’s offices.[2]

The Central Office Building is one of the most significant representatives of modern architecture in the center of Tampere. The light color of the façade, the strip-like windows, the street-level pillars and the partial roof terrace are typical of functionalism.[2] The layout is reminiscent of an ordinary office building, but the council hall, which protrudes from the façade, adds a distinctive character and feel to the administration building.[4] The restaurant, lobby and public areas are spacious and bright.[2] The exterior of the building is almost in its original appearance, but major alterations have been made to the interior.[2] The original appearance of the council hall has been well preserved.[4]

  1. ^ Tampereen kaupunki yhtiöittämässä keskusvirastotalon – Edessä yli 50 miljoonan remontti ja laajennus – Tamperelainen (in Finnish)
  2. ^ a b c d e f Iina Laakkonen: Alue- ja kohdeinventointi – City of Tampere (in Finnish)
  3. ^ Tampereen Keskustori: Rakennetun ympäristön historia ja nykytila – Arkkitehdit MY & City of Tampere (in Finnish)
  4. ^ a b Tampereen keskustan rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö 2012, liite 2: Modernin rakennuskulttuurin kohteet – A-Insinöörit Suunnittelu Oy & City of Tampere (in Finnish)