Campus in Otaniemi, Töölö and Arabia
Aalto University’s largest campus is situated in the Otaniemi area of Espoo, Finland. There you will find the university's four schools of technology. They are the School of Engineering, the School of Chemical Technology, the School of Science, and the School of Electrical Engineering. The School of Business is situated in the Töölö area of Helsinki. The School of Arts, Design and Architecture is located in the Arabia district of Helsinki. It is scheduled for a move to Otaniemi in 2016.
Otaniemi
Otaniemi is home to the Finnish architectural styles of the 1950s and '60s. The overall design of the Otaniemi campus is that of the celebrated Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The former Helsinki University of Technology and Teekkarikylä (student village) which is nowadays home to about two thousand of Aalto University's technology students, were constructed in the middle of the forest in the rural municipality of Espoo. Espoo gained its city status in 1972.
A high-tech cluster
Today, the Otaniemi campus is the largest high-tech educational cluster in the Nordic region. The Otaniemi community consists of 15 000 students from technology subject areas and 16 000 professionals from research organisations and tech companies. The EU Commission has selected the Otaniemi campus twice as one of the most innovative regions in Europe. Business incubators such as the Start-up Center and AppCampus also operate on the campus.
Today, the Otaniemi campus is the largest high-tech educational cluster in the Nordic region.
Alvarin Aukio Square at the centre of scientific community
It is impossible to overlook the central status of Alvarin aukio square, situated between the School of Science and Otaniemi shopping centre on Otakaari 1, when considering the activities of Aalto University's technology students. Among other things, the square is used for the semester opening ceremonies in the autumn, as well as for celebrating the unofficial end of the spring semester on 1 May. It is then, at the stroke of midnight on 30 April, that the first-year technology students are allowed to put on the traditional hat (in Finnish ‘teekkarilakki’ as seen in the picture below) for the very first time.
Central campus moves to Otaniemi
The Aalto University Board made a decision in June 2011 to locate its central campus in Otaniemi. The central campus supports boundary-breaking research and artistic activities by enabling versatile and active forms of interaction. The Aalto University campus is being built gradually in an economically and ecologically sustainable way.
The central campus supports boundary-breaking research and artistic activities by enabling versatile and active forms of interaction.
The Campus 2015 architectural competition and the West Metro line
Aalto University Properties Ltd organised the Campus 2015 open, international architectural competition for the design of the central area of the campus. The competition began in 2012, and the winning proposal was announced in September 2013. The chosen project is called Väre.
The City Board of Espoo decided in the autumn of 2013 that the underground station being built as part of the West Metro line project near the university will be called Aalto University. This came after a request from the university itself and its student body.
Bachelor-level education to Otaniemi
The university's bachelor-level education is gradually being transferred to the Otaniemi central campus. A central hub for bachelor's degree students is being created on the existing campus premises, with the idea that students from different courses and programmes can meet up and study together.
Töölö
The School of Business operates in the Etu-Töölö area as part of the Helsinki Business Campus. In addition to the various units of the School of Business, the area is also home to the Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration (Hanken). The location provides the perfect opportunity for close collaboration with the businesses based in the central Helsinki area. Read more about services on Töölö campus.
Mikkeli
Aalto University also has a campus in Mikkeli, which is home to a unit of the School of Business. There you can complete a BScBA degree in International Business.
Arabia
The School of Arts, Design and Architecture is currently located in Arabianranta, the birthplace of Helsinki. The area is a rapidly developing ‘centre of creativity’ that has focused particularly on art, design and technology. Read more about services on Arabia campus.
Further information and references
- Aalto University at aalto.fi
- West Metro project