FinnBuild 50 years – where did it all begin?

The story of 50-year-old FinnBuild is built on Finnish construction, building technology, concrete, wood and much more! Over five decades, millions of euros have been traded, projects and partnerships planned, knowledge gained and the latest products adopted and, above all, networks established. The event also continues to serve as an excellent recruitment platform for students and those seeking a new career.

The history of Finnish fairs dates back to 1920. In the early decades, fairs and conventions were large, general fairs that featured multiple industries and visitor amusements attracting people from all over Finland. Naturally, the construction industry was already part of these events.

Part of FinnBuild's history dates back in 1957 in Töölö Exhibition Hall, when the first HVAC convention was held. It was soon followed by the Exhibition of Office Technology and the Boat and Hiking Exhibition. In 1974, under the name FinnBuild, the Building and Technical Services Convention was held for the first and last time in Töölö Exhibition Hall, as the new Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre in Pasila was being built at the same time. Thus, in autumn 2024, FinnBuild, and in February 2025, the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre in Pasila will celebrate their 50th anniversaries. However, the company itself was established as early as 1919.

Media and phenomena of time

FinnBuild has always attracted significant media interest. Surprisingly, many of the newspaper headlines sound familiar even today. Other things now belong firmly to the past, such as scantily clad women in shower stalls, and rightly so.

FinnBuild has always evolved with the times, together with the industry

Before the internet, back in the 90s, print advertising was still thriving. Posters were printed and visitors received a catalogue at the entrance, with information available in Finnish, Swedish, and English.

The fair has always been a place where you can see both foreign and domestic offerings, and where it is easy to make comparisons with a one-visit tactic. The name FinnBuild was introduced in 1974 because the event had already become highly international. The exhibitors came from 27 different countries in 1978, for example. Many domestic companies are also known to begun their internationalisation at these global fairs.

Highlights came to stay

Early on, it was noticed that various competitions were very popular at the fairs. The FinnBuild Highlights competition was launched in 2008, aiming to showcase the most interesting new products and innovations while making it easier for both the media and the public to navigate the event. The increased visibility of the Highlights continues to encourage companies to participate.

When selecting the Highlights, the jury pays particular attention to practical advantages and benefits for the end user. Proposals are also expected to demonstrate new applications of knowledge in building and technical construction services or to combine new and existing knowledge in innovative ways. The actual or potential commercial viability is also assessed in the initial Highlights panel.

In 2016, the Finnish Fair Foundation donated a grant of 3,000 euros to the competition. The grant was awarded to Congrid Oy (Ltd) for a software package designed to manage and monitor quality and safety at construction sites, consisting of a mobile app and a cloud service.

This year’s award is five times larger, and the winner will be chosen by a public vote, with the results announced on the event’s final day.

FinnBuild 2024 firmly focused on the future

FinnBuild, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is firmly focused on the future together with the industry. After the downturn caused by the war in Ukraine, the event is seen as particularly important. Building for the future and a smart and responsible construction sector will be the main themes of the industry's most important expo and convention event in autumn 2024, as well as building a recruitment base for the industry's economic upturn and, of course, celebrating the event's 50th anniversary.

Mr Harri Hautajärvi, architect and Doctor of Science in tehnique, will talk about the history of built environments in Finland over the decades on 9 October from 12 to 1 pm at the BuildingPro Stage. His presentation will be in Finnish, but you can learn about the history of Finnish construction in a photo exhibiton, curated by Hautajärvi. The exhibition will take place at hall 3.