What will Otaniemi look More green on campus – University at the heart of the like in 2050? p. 20 transforming outdoor spaces p. 4 startup ecosystem p. 24 WINTER 2018–2019 3 AALTO UNIVERSITY CAMPUS Green and urban 4 From an ancient 26 village to an Into a new era innovation hub Map of Aalto University campus development 6 Otaniemi has over the years become an increasingly vibrant and open community, a truly unique place in Europe. From village The latest additions have made our campus a home for the 10 to campus entire Aalto community. A BRAND-NEW building invited the rest of the stu- of the community has been able to present their dents of the School of Arts, Design and Architec- ideas about the Centre’s services and functions. Architectural gems ture from Arabia to the Otaniemi campus from the Aside from the student restaurant and worksta- beginning of the new academic year 2018. In the tions, even minigolf and drone rental were added beginning of 2019, we will welcome the students on the wishlist. and staff of the School of Business from Töölö At the same time, a vision is being prepared to (pages 6–9). carry out the development of the campus up to 12 We are much closer to our dream of a university year 2050. This is where we need your help. On where different fields of science, identities, cultures, pages 20–23 you will be able to familiarize yourself and perspectives can meet in the same place. with three alternate future scenarios that we wish For students, this means new opportunities. For to receive feedback on. example, the layout of workshops in School of Arts, Welcome to Aalto University’s campus! Public art sparks Design and Architeture’s new Väre building helps to draft and to implement artistic projects. New our imagination spaces also allow multidisciplinary encounters be- tween students in different fields. Learning new perspectives open-mindedly 18 is the heart of being part of the Aalto communi- ty (pages 10–11). The new services and restau- rants located around Väre will delightfully refresh Ilkka Niemelä Ota niemi’s service offering. Students’ needs are President, Aalto University diverse, and Otaniemi’s development as an in- What will Otaniemi dependent neighbourhood will benefit all its in- habitants, businesses and communities (pages look like in 2050? 24–35). And we’re still on a journey. The next develop- ment projects are already going forward. For exam- ple, Aalto Works will provide new facilities for the 20 School of Engineering and the School of Electrical Engineering. Design Factory and Kiuas will also eventually move into the same block (pages 12–17). Students are involved in building the future campus. The Student Centre planned near the The startup space Metro Station is a joint venture between Aalto to explore University Student Union (AYY), Aalto Universi- ty Business Students (KY) and Teknologförenin- gen (TF), which aims to create a common meeting place for all members of the community. The pro- 24 ject is in the design phase, whereby every member Publisher Aalto University, Campus Development Ristaniemi, Heini Saari, Jaakko Salavuo, Anu Salmi-Savilampi, Visa In Väre Image: Mikko Raskinen Noora Vänttinen Editor-in-Chief Antti Ahlava Sippola, Kari Talvitie, Antti Tuomela, Outi Turpeinen, Rosa Väisänen Managing Editor Noora Stapleton Translations Lingsoft Language Service Oy, Daniela Persson, Noora Chair of the Board, Stapleton, Svenska översättningsbyrån Ab Art direction, layout and photo editor Merkitys Address P.O. Box 18000, FI-00076 AALTO Aalto University Student Union Illustrations Merkitys / Tuomas Kärkkäinen Telephone +358 9 470 01 Cover image Tuomas Uusheimo Online aalto.fi/en/campus Writers Andrew Flowers, Paula Haikarainen, Dakota Lavento, Eeva Lehtinen, Ilkka Niemelä, Noora Stapleton, Anne Tapanainen, Anu Email [email protected] Vallinkoski, Noora Vänttinen Change of address [email protected] Images A-konsultit / Tietoa Oy, Dora Dalila Cheffi, Anni Hanen, Reija Printing Unigrafia Oy, 2018 På svenska Hirvonen, Aki Rask, Mikko Raskinen, Unto Rautio, SLA, Tuomas Paper 52 g/m2 newspaper (grade 72) Uusheimo, Adolfo Vera, Verstas Arkkitehdit Print run 35,000 www.aalto.fi/sv/campus/aalto- Contributors Marianna Bom, Sari Dhima, Nelli Huikari, Eevi Huhtamaa, Satu Kankaala, Mikko Keränen, Perttu Kähäri, Jukka Mäkelä, Pia Source of addresses Aalto University CRM Partnership and alumni universitetets-campus-tidning Ojanperä, Marika Paakkala, Jatta Reijonen, Sanna Reponen, Eetu data management Privacy notices https://www.aalto.fi/services/privacy-notices Image: Tuomas Uusheimo Image: Tuomas 4 AALTO UNIVERSITY CAMPUS 5 AALTO UNIVERSITY CAMPUS Otaniemi Green in brief and urban Text 35% Anu Vallinkoski 18% OTANIEMI DOWNTOWN Otaniemi and the Aalto University campus are HELSINKI set to undergo rapid change, with plenty of new Otaniemi has a size of approximately 1.4 square development in the works. At the same time, the kilometres. The district is approximately the same size as character of the urban areas will be transformed downtown Helsinki, from Kallio into an inviting oasis of outdoor environments to Ruoholahti. Around 35% of Otaniemi is currently made up and verdant spaces. of green areas. PARENTS The development of green areas will pushing prams, food outlets and restau- ments the aim is to enrich the site. Currently, the create appealing environments that much in the same way as a municipal district or ‘The need for a future-proofed and sustaina- rants, outdoor sport and exercise facilities, urban green spaces are either entirely covered by lawns encourage people to leave their buildings neighbourhood. ble vision permeates every aspect of SLA’s de- and useful plants could benefit everyone cultivation plots, and plenty of new homes. There’s or have not been cultivated at all. More variation is on site. Illustration: SLA signs. They have considered the impact of climate life after 5 pm. This is the vision that Aalto Univer- needed’, Saari says. Future-proofing change, this ideal can be seen in the plans for pe- sity’s Campus Curator Heini-Emilia Saari has for Sustainability Manager Satu Kankaala Considering alternative visions is vital for envi- destrianisation and making the outdoor areas Currently, about 4,000 people the future of Otaniemi. (ACRE) is enthusiastic about the proposal to uti- ronmental planning. comfortable and lush with urban verdancy’, Kan- live in the area. In the future, ‘Future Otaniemi will be a living-breathing part lise useful plants. ‘Nobody knows what the future holds for cars. kaala says. the aim is to build houses for a of the city. People live and work here in increasing- ‘There’s no reason why the trees on the site Are we going to be driving more or less? Now, we further 7,000 new residents. ly diverse ways and in greater numbers than be- shouldn’t bear edible fruit. The yield of apples, Otaniemi build multi-storey car parks above ground. If our Different perspectives fore’, she says. plums, and berries could benefit everyone on site’, fondness for cars decreases in the future, these Various conditions had to be taken into considera- The City of Espoo plans to develop housing for she notes. will become ground-level car parks can be knocked down and tion when planning the regeneration of Otaniemi. 7,000 people in the area. The eventual aim is that According to Kankaala, the site’s biodiversity something else can take their place. There is no A prime example of these is the Laajalahti Na- approximately half of Otaniemi’s residents will be will be considered much more carefully than ever a coherent point sticking to a single vision of the future that ture Reserve, which is home to an international- There are several landowners. students. before. One example of this is the decision to no may become problematic when change takes place’, ly-important wetland area, a migratory destination Aalto University Properties Ltd In addition to the residential developments, longer plant non-native species. urban hub, Talvitie notes. for numerous species of bird. The northern whea- and Senate Properties Oy are numerous other buildings will be erected. These It is precisely for this reason that landscape ar- tear and corncrake can be spotted there if you look the major landowners. The City will be used by the university and its collaborative A pedestrianised city surrounding chitecture must take climate change and its relat- carefully. It is a stopping-off-point for flocks of of Espoo owns some of the partners. For example, work on the new Student The central premise behind the development of ed factors into consideration. Increase in rainfall birds during their spring and autumn migrations. many paths and thoroughfares. Centre is set to begin soon. The building is intend- green areas is the creation of appealing environ- both the and high winds in Northern Europe are the result Otaniemi also boasts several examples of cul- Among others, Espoo Lutheran ed for use by the university’s student bodies and is ments that encourage people to leave their build- of global warming. turally and historically important architecture. Church, Technopolis, and situated opposite Harald Herlin Learning Centre ings and continue learning outdoors. The corri- university SLA has designed different solutions to cope with The environment and buildings must complement Teknologföreningen all own and the Metro station. dors and connecting pathways of both the in- and rain and melt water runoff, including water features each other. plots of land in Otaniemi. Transportation connections will also be mod- outdoor spaces on the site are being reimagined as and the Metro and the use of permeable surface materials. Yet another important consideration for the ernised. Plans are already in place for the Jokeri meeting places. Another aspect considered by the proposed landscape architects is the issue of land ownership.