Case Study: Finnish National Theatre achieves enhanced fire safety in a historic renovation with Jensen Hughes

Finnish National Theatre modernizes 50% of its spaces with Jensen Hughes

The Finnish National Theatre, a historic cultural institution in Helsinki, required a renovation that balanced modern safety standards with the preservation of its protected listed building. The challenge involved updating technical installations and creating new public spaces, like a 200-seat hall, which introduced stricter fire safety and exit route requirements. Jensen Hughes was engaged to provide fire safety engineering and code consulting services to address these challenges within the constraints of the existing structure.

Jensen Hughes designed compliant fire safety plans that adapted existing stairwells for new exit routes. The solution included expanding the automatic fire extinguishing system's coverage and discreetly converting the smoke extraction to a mechanical system within the ceiling joist spacing. As a result, the theatre successfully integrated modern safety features unobtrusively, ensuring the building remains a functional and safe space for audiences while preserving its historic architecture.

Finnish National Theatre