Community has an important role to play in new building's design
16.05.2014
The design work for a new building set to be built Aalto University's Otaniemi campus is picking up pace. The aim is that the construction work will get under way in early 2015.
View from the west, project plan: Image courtesy of Verstas Architects Ltd.
The shape of Aalto University's Otaniemi campus area will change in the coming years. The plaza currently serving as the hub for the streets and parking areas to the west of the Otakaari 1 building is being transformed into the centre of the Otaniemi campus. The new look of the plaza, as well as the building being erected there, was decided upon by the Campus 2015 architectural design competition organised last September. The winning entry was Verstas Architects Ltd.'s ‘Väre’. Planning is now proceeding on the basis of this design.
The building will primarily serve as the new home for the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, which is already preparing for its move from Arabia to Otaniemi. The construction project is currently being costed and the Aalto University Board will discuss the commencement of the building work in the summer. If all goes according to plan, then the first stages of the construction will begin in the early part of 2015 and the School of Arts, Design and Architecture will be ready to move to its new home on the Otaniemi campus in 2017.
Campus restaurant to become a central meeting point
The brand new building will change the campus ambience for the better. Whereas the current space is dominated by transport routes, the new building and its purpose-built metro station will constitute a coherent and cohesive whole alongside the Otakari 1 and library buildings designed by Alvar Aalto. The commercial premises in the plaza surrounding the buildings will form an important meeting place for the entire Otaniemi community. The open public space of the new building connects with the plaza in the direction of T Building. It is still hoped that the spatial and artistic look of the new Aalto University metro station will be influenced by Verstas' winning design.
In addition to the new building's modern teaching and office spaces, it will also house a multipurpose campus restaurant. Outside of the lunchtime service hours, the space will transform from a restaurant into spaces in which students, researchers and staff can work and spend their time. Also making the move from the Arabia to Otaniemi campus is the legendary student restaurant, Kipsari.
Staff and student workshops
Designing the Otaniemi campus is a challenge for the whole university. Indeed, members of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture community have actively participated in the design process.
The new areas and spaces will allow Aalto University to achieve its aim of diversifying the range of locations in which students and staff work; making a marked impact on the efficient use of space. The entire Aalto ARTS community has given consideration to the spatial requirements of learning and work. The materials and ideas generated by the dialogue were also utilised in the brief for the architectural competition.
Project Manager for the new Otaniemi campus building Tapio Koskinen is also responsible for the development of the teaching and research premises at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture. Koskinen has organised regular workshops and coffee meetings at the school in order for students and staff to meet the Aalto University community members who are working on the design and construction project.