The centre consists of three buildings: town hall, library and theatre which surround a central, parklike open area. White brick and ceramic tiles as façade materials tie the buildings together. Library was completed in 1966 and the theatre and congress hall Lappia hall in 1976. The town hall was completed after Alvar Aalto’s death in 1988; the work was lead in Aalto’s office by Elissa Aalto.
As in many Aalto buildings, the facades in Rovaniemi civic centre buildings often emphasize specific interior spaces. The council chamber in the Town hall rises higher than the rest of the building; theatre (Lappia Hall) has an undulating roof often compared to the Lapland Fells. Library’s high-level windows bring natural light into the lending hall.