Finland expo pavilion structural works finished

12 October 2020
Finland confirms that construction of its Snow Cape pavilion is 90 per cent complete

The team behind the Finland pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has announced the completion of structural works, with the remainder of the pavilion to be completed in 2021.

Following the announcement of the postponement of the expo, the structure of the 'Snow Cape' pavilion has been prepared to withstand the extension period. The rest of the construction work, including the interior fit-out, is scheduled to resume in April 2021.

 

In an official statement, Severi Keinala, commissioner general of Finland at Expo 2020 Dubai, says: “Our decision to postpone the final construction elements of our pavilion was made to ensure the final aesthetic elements are as fresh as possible for the October 2021 opening.

"In particular, the exterior membrane of the pavilion will be added closer to the opening date, as this white surface is what will bring our Snow Cape to life. Once construction resumes next year, our touchless KONE elevators and sliding doors will be installed and preparations will begin on the exhibition space and interior design.”

Read: Expo 2020 pavilion gets the 'Finnishing' touch

“Preparing the structure for a period of hibernation and changing weather conditions has meant pausing the execution of the intricate details of the pavilion’s design and finish," explains Dietmar Kautschitz, chief customer officer at Expomobilia, which is managing and executing construction activities for a number of pavilions at Expo 2020.

"When we return to the site in April 2021, we will finalise the exterior of the pavilion, including the aluminium outer wall of the entrance, the exterior membrane, the granite-decorated lakes located at the pavilion’s entrance and the signage. The substrate of the gorge, the centrepiece of the pavilion, has been completed with the exception of the final wood coating, which will be installed closer to the opening date,” says Kautshitz.

Keinala notes that Finland is among the first country pavilions to reach this stage and pause construction on the shell and core of the structure.

"The envelope of our pavilion has been completed to withstand the winter weather and I am looking forward to finishing the final surfaces next spring and moving on to the interior fit-out phase in order to have a fresh and exciting pavilion, ready to welcome visitors on October 1, 2021. With less than one year to go, the countdown is on.”

A MEED Subscription...

Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.