page_title: Senate Square, Helsinki
section_title: Construction
hierarchical_section_title: Senate Square, Helsinki / Construction
caption_attribution_description: English: Senate Square, Helsinki, Finland Suomi: Senaatintori, Helsinki Svenska: Senatstorget, Helsingfors
context_page_description: The Senate Square presents Carl Ludvig Engel's architecture as a unique allegory of political, religious, scientific and commercial powers in the centre of Helsinki, Finland.
  Senate Square and its surroundings make up the oldest part of central Helsinki. Landmarks and famous buildings surrounding the square are the Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, main building of the University of Helsinki and the Sederholm House, the oldest building of central Helsinki dating from 1757.
context_section_description: In the 17th and 18th centuries it was the location of a graveyard. In 1812 Senate Square was designated as the main square for the new capital of Helsinki in the city plan designed by Johan Albrecht Ehrenström. The Palace of the Council of State (or Government Palace) was completed on the eastern side of the Senate Square in 1822. It served as the seat of the Senate of Finland until it was replaced by the Council of State in 1918, and now houses the offices of the Prime Minister of Finland and the cabinet.
  The main University building, on the opposite side of the Senate Square, was constructed in 1832.
  The Helsinki Cathedral on the northern edge of the Senate Square was Engel's lengthiest architectural project. He worked on it from 1818 until his death in 1840. The Helsinki Cathedral — then called the Church of St. Nicholas — dominates the Senate Square, and was finalized twelve years afters Engel's death, in 1852.
caption: Panorama of the Helsinki Senate Square. From left: the main building of University of Helsinki, Helsinki Cathedral and the Government Palace. The statue of Alexander II is at the center.
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