Seinäjoki cultural and administrative centre is based on two architectural competitions. In 1951, Alvar Aalto won the church competition organized by the Parish of Seinäjoki with his proposal Lakeuksien risti (the Cross of the Plains). Seven years later (1958), he also won the competition for Seinäjoki Town Hall organized by the township of Seinäjoki with his proposal Kaupungintalo (Town hall). He was thus given the opportunity to design a complete urban centre.