3.3.3 THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
The structural drawings served as work specifications for casting the concrete. Since
the structural design was being carried out simultaneously with the construction work,
the progress of the work could be inferred from the dates of the structural drawings.^716
The drawings were made between June and November 1930, when the concrete frame
construction also took place.^717 The drawings dated June refer to the beams in the
boiler room (D wing). The drawings dated July refer to the A wing foundations and the
ground floor slab and beams; the B wing foundations, basement ceiling and the ground
floor columns; and the C wing basement ceiling and walls. The drawings contained
markings on the work methods on site and completion dates for interim goals. The
work progressed at a rapid pace.^718 In August, designs were completed for the ground
and first floor ceilings of the sundeck and the ground-floor ceiling of B wing, the special
drawings for the suspension rods and three staircase drawings: the staircase spiralling
around a chimney in C wing, a straight staircase for C wing, and staircase C in A wing.
The structural drawing for the bridge connecting B and C wings as well as the lobby
ceiling and main entrance canopy pillars were dated September. Drawings for the water
tank, certain beams in the boiler room and B building as well as the ground floor ceiling
in B building were dated October. The cantilevered beam tapering towards the outer
edge for A wing was dated November 1930.^719
The final inspection of the frame construction was conducted by the architect
Alvar Aalto, clerk of works Kaarlo Kilpi, contractor Arvi Ahti, site foreman Yrjö
Oskari Vuokko and architect Ilmari Ahonen, who was secretary to the inspection
panel. The engineer who conducted the structural calculations, chief supervisor Emil
Henriksson did not attend the final inspection.^720 The final inspection was conducted
in harmonious spirit. The panel stated that the work had been carried out with com-
mendable diligence, both in terms of progress and quality. It was recorded in the
minutes that the execution deviated somewhat from the original designs. Work that
had been omitted included the roof-top machine rooms of the two smaller lifts, four
staircase steps, the masonry work between the chimney and boiler room and the slab
between beams in the boiler room ceiling. The volume of the kitchen staircase had
also been reduced. Extra work included the enlargement of the large lift machine
room in the main staircase, the expansion of the channel between the boiler room
and the main building and masonry work on the boiler room walls. The boiler room
716 Structural calculations were completed in a similar manner, concurrently with the construction, in the Southwest
Finland Agricultural Cooperative Building. TKA.
717 The contract for erecting the steel concrete skeleton was concluded June 17, 1930. It came into effect immediately
after the contractor had set a guarantee. Contract between the Building Board and contractor Arvi Ahti, June 17,- Work and contractor contracts 1929–1951. PSA.
718 For example, the beams based on the designs for the lower slab beams dated in July were cast almost immedi-
ately, on August 2. Emil Hendriksson’s constructional drawing No. 3, July 1930. PSA.
719 Emil Henriksson’s constructional drawing No. 7, November 1930. PSA.
720 Minutes of the final inspection, December 5, 1930. PSA.