Building the future and the new School of Business

Aalto University School of Business moved to its new home in Otaniemi in February 2019. The new building situated in Ekonominaukio 1 has attracted a lot of positive attention since its opening and many have come to admire its outstanding architecture and decor. Both the students, faculty, and staff have settled in quickly at their new home. The new building suits the purposes of modern office and student life better than those of Töölö did. However, the valuable and dear buildings in Töölö and all the decades spent there shall not be forgotten.

One of the reasons why the various spaces in the new building have proved to be so functional is that the different user groups – be they students, members of faculty and staff or alumni – were listened to in each stage of planning the building. Students, for instance, were involved in designing the furnishing of Learning Hub – a center dedicated to self studying and group work.

‘We decided to furnish the space with desks suited for group work, smaller tables for individual work, sofas, armchairs, and with various other items. After using the center, however, the students realized that they are not using the sofas much, and said that they would rather have more desks for group work and electric height-adjustable desks, so that they can study standing,’ says Mia Mustonen, who coordinated the project. ‘Based on the feedback given by the students, the sofas were replaced by the needed desks and electric poles, and the hub now fits nearly 40 students more than before. Students have been happy with the renewed hub and are using it actively. The sofas, in turn, have found a new place in other parts of the building.’

During the past year, changes have also been made in the Undergraduate Center, where the bachelor students of the School of Business study in Otaniemi. In order to bring a piece of the strong Töölö identity to Otaniemi, one of the rooms in the Undergraduate Center was turned into a history room. The room was furnished with the old furniture from the Chancellor’s room at Runeberginkatu. The furniture was already used at Fabianinkatu and in the Dean’s room there. The history room is open to students, so the heritage of Töölö lives on among the students in this way as well.

These and other changes would not have been possible without the generous support of our donors. The School of Business has long traditions of receiving donations: already the main building at Runeberginkatu, which was built in 1950, was funded by donations. This tradition now lives on in Otaniemi as well. We want to express our warmest thanks to our donors! You have participated in giving the students better facilities for studying and bringing the valuable heritage from Töölö to Otaniemi. Our heartfelt thanks for your support!

For more information, please contact
Helena Salminen
helena.salminen@aalto.fi