The 'Sausage' building was designed by the architects Viljo Revell and Heikki Castrén. It was erected in 1967 on the corner of Kaivokatu street and Keskuskatu street. It was commissioned by the Finnish state and the Julius Tallberg company. The building was given the American-styled name 'City Center', but people immediately christened it the 'Sausage building' as the parking level was surrounded by a bulky concrete rail resembling a sausage.

     The Sausage building reflects sixties design but such American-styled solutions, where parking had been directed to upper levels by ramps, remained rare in Helsinki. The Sausage building is of value as part of the history of construction in Helsinki. For a local, it represents everyday surroundings that have become a vital part of the cityscape. The building has triumphed in numerous polls for the city's ugliest building.