Collaborative workshop on innovation for a more versatile use of space

Jakamisella viisautta, so called JAVIST project*, brings together the expertise of Aalto University, ACRE, the University of Helsinki and the City of Helsinki to develop shared learning spaces. The main objective of the project is to support companies providing services and products for learning spaces and to improve their business opportunities. At the same time, the JAVIST project will help to understand how shared spaces and the way they work can add value to the campus as a whole.

As part of Aalto University's campus development plan and based on user feedback, there is an ongoing need for more space and facilities for students and staff on campus. On the other hand, the campus restaurant facilities have been identified as potential underutilized spaces. Greater use of the dining halls could increase the occupancy rate and expand the range of facilities available, as well as increase the sense of community and potentially increase restaurant sales. It would also improve the visibility of the restaurant and facilities and promote the use of existing campus space resources.

Restaurant workshop to kick-start co-development

One of the key questions at the JAVIST restaurant workshop was what else could be done in the restaurant spaces other than eating, and how we could open up the campus restaurant spaces to students and staff when the restaurants are closed. The workshop brought together a wealth of insights from campus restaurant operators Compass Group, Menessa Ltd and Sodexo.

The meeting gave a lot of different ideas and thoughts on how to develop shared spaces, but on the other hand, the open restaurant spaces already work quite well as self-study spaces and for temporary project work. No particular challenges or problems have been identified in terms of sharing facilities. As a final highlight, the possibility of launching pilot projects on this topic was explored.

The restaurant workshop was just the beginning, and Aalto University will continue to develop the facilities in cooperation with the various actors on campus. The aim is to create a more communal space in the future that serves all campus users in a variety of ways.

*The sharing economy and the smart use of resources support the objectives of sustainability and sustainable development. The JAVIST project will build significant learning environments for the future and develop the metropolitan ecosystem. The project is co-funded by the EU. For more information: https://hevinnovations.fi/en/about/