Siida’s extension confirmed: Senate Properties has made an investment decision

The Sámi Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre Siida will be renovated and extended in 2020–2022. As the owner of the Siida Building, Senate Properties has, through a decision by its Board of Directors, made an investment decision on the extension project on 18 December 2019. The Sámi Museum Foundation is the main tenant of the Siida Building, and the Foundation sublets parts of the house to the Nature Centre and Restaurant Sarrit.

The Siida Building – inaugurated in 1998 – will now be renewed to meet the needs of an increased number of operations and higher visitor figures. In the project, Siida will get museum and nature centre premises that will fulfil modern demands both technically and operationally. The project will cover approximately 3000 m2, this will also increase the area of the building by 50 % .

At its front, the extension project will have new, proper collection facilities for the Sámi Museum. With an extension of the Collections Unit, the new facilities will provide the Sámi Museum with the capacity for continuing as a national museum responsible for its special field. After the project, the Sámi Museum will receive a repatriation of the Sámi Collection of the National Museum of Finland (more than 2000 items). A repatriation of this size is noteworthy even internationally.

Siida’s extension project will be realised in stages. During the initial phase – starting on 1 May 2020 – a collection unit and a restaurant wing will be built. After they have been completed, the Siida Building will be closed for a year for the renovation phase in April 2021. The Sámi Museum and Nature Centre and the restaurant will continue serving customers throughout the renovation stage, using the new wings as their facilities. During the change, Siida will use the legendary Open-Air Museum as its exhibition venue. Siida with its new facilities and permanent exhibitions will be opened on 1 April 2022.

The architectural design of Siida’s extension has been entrusted to Architects Soini & Horto Ltd from Helsinki. The Construction Manager will be Miikka Teppo from Senate Properties.

The renewal of Siida’s permanent exhibitions will have the same schedule as the extension. Friends of Industry Ltd / Harri Koskinen will be the Exhibition Architect.

The Sámi Museum and Nature Centre Siida is pleased to realise a development project that will enable Siida to renew and expand its operations. Customers will also in future find Siida’s diverse services and operations in one building.

There will be an information meeting – open for the public – on the project on 9 January 2020 at 5 p.m. at the Sámi Museum and Nature Centre Siida.

Further information:
Sámi Museum Siida:  Sari Valkonen, Museum Director, sari.valkonen@samimuseum.fi, tel. +358 40 767 1052
Senate Properties: Tuomas Pusa, Division Director tuomas.pusa@senaatti.fi, +358 (0)50 390 2143

Illustrative drawings for media use: https://www.flickr.com/gp/siidainari/921165

Updated 18.2.2021: (2600 items) –> (more than 2000 items)