The public entrance is on the first storey on the south side of the building, overlooking the town centre. This area is characterised by light colours and decorated with a large painting executed by the artist Kåre Espolin Johnson (1907-1994). The painting is tilted "Grenselandet" (Borderland) and is from 1962. One could describe the painting as a composition depicting different elements from the artist's childhood, and images of the geographical area surrounding the Pasvik river and Russia. This painting is expressed as an image in one's memory.