Signe’s construction work advancing

Construction work is advancing according to plan, and Signe is gradually taking on its final external appearance. On the Kalevankatu side, the installation of stone cladding for the façade has already begun, and work will continue on the Mannerheimintie side in October. The stonework will be completed during the autumn. Roofing work and interior phases of the building are also progressing well. Early this autumn, the flooring of the roof terrace will also be installed, using granite slabs salvaged from the façade of the previous building on the site. 
 
Two-toned Jura limestone for the façade
 
The façade of Signe will feature light-coloured Jura limestone. During the design stage, a wide range of stone types was considered, and this was chosen not only for its durability but also for urban design reasons. 

This natural stone is well suited to Helsinki’s variable climate conditions and is highly durable. Its properties were carefully studied, and it was also subjected to a frost-resistance test carried out by an independent inspection body. In Helsinki, façades of the same stone can be found, for example, on an office building at Kasarmintori and the German Embassy in Kuusisaari. 

On the Mannerheimintie side, two varieties of Jura stone quarried at different heights will be used. The subtle difference in their shade adds richness to the architecture and visually breaks up the large building mass, making it more interesting in the cityscape. In addition to stone, the façade will feature copper surfaces and windows that create a sense of openness, increasing brightness at street level and enlivening the city centre, especially in the winter months.