Construction company Lapti and PES-Architects have been selected as partners for the implementation of the New Aviation Museum in Vantaa’s Aviapolis district in Finland. The Finnish Aviation Museum Foundation and Lapti signed the development phase agreement on 9 October 2025, allowing planning to progress toward a building permit and the start of construction in spring 2026.
During the development phase, the plans for the museum will be refined in close collaboration with the museum staff, construction experts, contractor Lapti, PES-Architects, and technical designers. The aim is to submit a building permit application by the end of the development phase in early 2026.
Construction of the New Aviation Museum is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, and the museum is set to open at the turn of 2027–2028. At the end of the development phase, the board of the Finnish Aviation Museum Foundation will decide on the final construction investment before concluding the contract for the implementation phase.
A significant aviation and museum project
The Finnish Aviation Museum is a museum with national responsiblity for preserving and exhibiting the history of Finnish aviation. The new museum center aims to attract over 100,000 visitors a year.
“We are delighted that the project has now progressed to the development phase. We’ve been preparing the project and financing for several years. With the newly selected partners, we can realize a plan that will allow the long-term development of the museum’s operations, enabling us to offer new services and experiences to our customers and stakeholders. We’re creating an entirely new and unique museum concept and are also inviting businesses to join us as partners,” says Pia Illikainen, CEO of the Finnish Aviation Museum Foundation.
The building project will be carried out under a collaborative design and build contract, with the Finnish Aviation Museum Foundation as the client. Construction company Lapti is responsible for the planning, permit process, and construction of the museum. PES-Architects is the principal and architectural designer. A-Insinöörit serves as the project construction consultant.
“We’re excited to be involved in building a new center to showcase Finnish aviation history – one that is particularly ambitious in both its architecture and its functions. During the development phase, we’ll refine the plans in collaboration with the various parties involved, ensuring that the future building will meet all the goals set for it and we can proceed to the construction phase as planned,” says Regional Director Jarkko Pakkala from Lapti.
“The New Aviation Museum is not just a museum, but a welcoming place to spend time and a lively events hub – a living room for the developing Aviapolis area. The aim is that the facilities will also serve the needs of corporate customers. Through collaboration, we can leverage the best expertise and insights of different professionals for the benefit of the future museum,” says project director, construction consultant Roope Haimila from A-Insinöörit.
The New Aviation Museum will be built with funding from the state, the City of Vantaa, and private sources. The museum is currently seeking additional private funding from foundations, companies, and individuals. The total budget is 25 million euros.
An inspiring new museum center
The architecture of the New Aviation Museum draws inspiration from aviation. The building’s modern exhibition spaces will provide versatile opportunities to showcase the history and future of aviation. With events, services, and adaptable facilities, the New Aviation Museum will always offer something new for visitors to see and experience.
“What was exceptional in this competition was the interaction with both the client and construction company already during the competition process. We were able to integrate considerations related to functionality, cost, and constructability with our architectural goals. We’re very happy with how the building’s concept and architectural expression support the experiences and stories offered by the museum,” says the building’s chief designer, Tuomas Silvennoinen from PES-Architects.
With a total area of approximately 7,000 m2, the building will include exhibition spaces, a café, a museum shop, and other facilities related to the museum’s operations, such as flight simulators.
The New Aviation Museum will be built right next to the existing Finnish Aviation Museum in Vantaa’s Aviapolis district near Helsinki Airport, replacing the old museum facilities. The new museum will connect via a passageway to the new Aviapolis High School to be built on the same plot.
Further information:
Pia Illikainen, CEO, Finnish Aviation Museum Foundation, tel. +358 44 239 5030, pia.illikainen@ilmailumuseo.fi
Jarkko Pakkala, Regional Director, Lapti, tel. +358 40 830 7204, jarkko.pakkala@lapti.fi
https://lapti.fi/
Tuomas Silvennoinen, Senior Partner, COB, PES-Architects, tel. +358 40 5652745, tuomas.silvennoinen@pesark.com
https://pesark.com/
Roope Haimila, Project Director, A-Insinöörit, tel. +358 40 823 1230, roope.haimila@ains.fi
https://www.ains.fi/
