Class of ’52 reunited for a celebration

A plank to get into the building, when stairs were still under construction. Dodging of painting racks and builders inside. This was the scene at the School of Business main building in October 1949 when the class of ’52 started their studies in the brand new building. This year marks the 65th anniversary of their graduation.

Thirteen alumni of that class gathered to reminisce and hear how their School is doing today. Dean Ingmar Björkman told the party how the School has changed since their days of studying. In many courses, real life cases from companies have replaced scramming for exams, and the study environment is truly international, the Dean noted.

The alumni wondered what, in 65 years, might look like a reunion of the class starting this autumn.

The close relationship the alumni have with each other and the School is a prime example of the sense of community the School of Business creates, said Dean Ingmar Björkman.

Almost 300 students started in the class of ’52. They were from different age groups as many of them continued straight from high school, and at the same time, some the young men had spent many years at the battlefront.

The alumni were most of all interested if the student life is as joyful as it was in their days. “What we hear, it seems a little mild compared to us”, they said smilingly.

When the class of ’52 started in Töölö, the rest of the students were still studying in the old main building in Fabianinkatu. The inauguration of the new building was in April 1950.

In 2019 the students, faculty and staff of the Aalto University School of Business start yet again a new chapter in the history of the School when the new and third main building opens its doors in Otaniemi.