The Olympia Terminal, which was built for the Helsinki 1952 Olympics, celebrated its 70th anniversary in June.

The terminal was designed by Risto-Veikko Luukkonen and Aarne Hytönen, and is now a listed building protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency. During the spring, the terminal received a well-deserved facelift to revive the spirit of its original architecture.

For example, the old functional-style leather benches were restored, as were the original stone window bays, the large compass rose on the floor, and the O-shaped door handles that were specially designed for the building.

During the summer, Helsinki City Museum organised a photo exhibition in the lobby to showcase the building’s history to passengers.

Modern services

In addition to reviving the terminal’s 1950s vibe, the building’s technology was also extensively renewed during the renovations.

Technical building systems were optimised throughout. For instance, the building is now lit with energy-efficient LED lamps.

Passenger comfort has also increased, as gangways and passenger corridors have been refurbished, and new check-in gates with a direct connection to shipping companies’ systems have been installed. Younger passengers will also be delighted to find an iWall interactive sports wall – which may also be of interest to some adults.

The Olympia carpark in the basement received not only a new look, but also a technology upgrade and charging stations for electric vehicles.