Otaniemi campus to develop into a lively neighbourhood
The university's campus is in Otaniemi, home of the lively community that supports innovations. The goal of the campus development is to mix valuable history and new ways of planning.
Construction sites and exception routes on campus
On this page, you will find a summary of the construction sites and routes on Otaniemi campus.
There are other construction sites alongside Aalto University's renovation, indoor and outdoor constructions projects on Otaniemi campus:for example City of Espoo and Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY) also have their construction sites.
Different sites are completed with according to different schedules, so please consider exceptional routes when moving around the campus.
Roadworks and construction sites
A linear access route from the metro and the shopping centre A Blanc to Dipoli (Otakaari 24) will be built. In addition, the comfort of the area will be further enhanced by adding more vegetation and benches and by enabling e.g. presentation of works of art. The project started in August 2021 and the work will continue in spring 2023. Wide bedrock underneath and changes in the construction plans caused delays for the construction site.
One of the focus points of campus development currently is improving the outdoor areas. In addition to pedestrian ways, the aim is to improve, for example, the versatility, accessibility, comfort, lighting on campus, and sustainable design solutions. Once the projects are completed, the campus outdoor areas will also better support experimental student activities, environmental art and holding events.
Marsio building (Otakaari 2A) and Otakaari 2B will bring a lot of new state-of-the-art teaching and research space, as well as much-needed event and studio space to Otaniemi. Work began in February 2022, and is scheduled for completion in 2023-2024.
Approximately 6,500 brm2 of state-of-the-art multifunctional space for teaching, research, events and a studio centre will be completed at Otakaari 2A. Otakaari 2A's facilities will be equipped with new digital technologies that enable cross-disciplinary research and teaching, and will take Aalto's events to a new level, both on campus and virtually. Main users for the building will be School of Art and Design and Aalto Studios.
Otakaari 2B brings approximately 5,700 brm2 for teaching, research and office space to the School of Science and the School of Electrical Engineering. The new building will be connected to the Nanotalo building and Aalto Nanomicroscopy Center, allowing for more collaboration in the field of nanotechnology.
The parking area nearby Otakaari 2B construction site is closed. Pedestrian routes are moved to the Väre and School of Economics side. The construction site might cause temporarily disruptions on Otakaari, Maarintie and Konemiehentie.
Read more about Marsio (Otakaari 2A) and 2B projectsChanges in traffic arrangements at the intersection of Konemiehentie and Maarintie
The lower part of Otakaari 8 building, also known as the ISS depot, has been demolished.
A multi-storey car park will be built in this area next to Maarintalo (Sähkömiehentie 3). This will ensure the parking spaces required by the building permits, and centralise vehicular traffic, leaving the land at the heart of the campus for other uses.
The construction site is fenced, and it will not affect moving on the campus.
Raide-Jokeri light rail is the fast rail route between Itäkeskus in Helsinki and Keilaniemi in Espoo. On the Otaniemi campus there will be four light rail stops: Otaniementie, Ainonaukio, Maarintie and Maarinrannantie.
On Otaniemi rail construction works are mainly finished and the technical test runs of the Jokeri Light Rail have started. The safety of road users will be ensured with the help of traffic controllers and signs.
The city of Espoo is about to start several construction site projects in the Otaniemi area. In the spring of 2022, street and cable relocation works are about to start at the intersection of Miestentie-Tekniikantie, which may affect traffic.
Big changes and improvements are starting along Otakaari after the summer. Street and other municipal technology will be renovated and coordinated with the new town plan. Higher quality pedestrian and cycling routes will be built on Otakaari. The current underpass will be removed and replaced by stairs and a more accessible connection through the site. The roundabout at Servin Maijan tie will be preserved.
More about the Otaniemi new town plan from Espoo city pages
We will communicate on the construction work and its more detailed impact on campus later.
Read more about campus development
Aalto University campus 2050
New buildings and services, more residents and plenty of green. The outlines for the next stage of development at the campus are already being drawn on the map.
New decaying wood artwork on the Otaniemi campus
The piece enhances, among other things, the versatility of campus nature
Outdoor renovation of Otakaari 1 nearing completion
The renovation work around the Amphi square will be completed in the autumn 2022
Water supply renovation site in the front of A Blanc
Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY) water supply renovation site has moved from Rakentajanaukio area to the front of the A Blanc shopping centre.