Consept

Uniarts renovation project

The University of the Arts Helsinki will be operating on two campuses in Helsinki in the future. The upcoming new building at Kaikukatu 5 will be a part of the developing Sörnäinen campus, which will act as the teaching facilities and meeting point for fine arts, theatre and dance. Music education in turn will focus on the Töölö campus. The two Uniarts campuses will host approximately 2,100 students of music, fine arts, theatre and dance, and the hundreds of teachers and researchers working at the university. The University of the Arts Helsinki founded in 2013 is formed of the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy, and Theatre Academy Helsinki.

It is impossible to see even the near future of learning environment development and changes. The operations of Uniarts are particularly multifaceted, contemporary and affected by changes going on in the society. Yet the lifespan of a building is always measured in decades, if not centuries. For this reason, modification adaptability is a high priority in this project, and the focal starting point for planning is to create a space that is as adaptable as possible.

Modifiability will be ensured on many levels and sectors. The most important thing is to have flexibility in the grand scheme. The base dimensions and space structure have been designed so that it is possible to make modifications to the grouping and arrangement of spaces. The levels will be clear and unified, which will make it possible to move around and change the borders between different operations freely. Using the façades as bearing walls and few other bearing structures will make it easier to make modifications. Routes for internal traffic, such as the main elevators and staircases will be placed in optimal positions from a functional perspective. The level height in the new building will be seven metres on the first floor and five metres on all upper floors. The height will enable freely designing space groupings in the entire building and ensure that natural light will reach even deeper parts of the building.

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Cityscape

The Uniarts renovation project will complete the historical cityscape of Sörnäisten rantatie. The building interprets traditional industrial construction in a modern way. The minimalistically elegant architecture supports the identity of the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts and provides space and visibility to the rich contents of the building. The red brick building mass is intercepted by windows rhythmed in an archaically simplistic way. The style and scale is robustly grandiose in a way suitable for both the traditional industrial environment as well as its new purpose. The windows will be glazed using unified glass elements and simplified fitting details, which will highlight the elegant appearance of the establishment. In the inner courtyard, the new building’s façades will be plastered. It will also be possible to add alternating murals created by the school on the plaster surface.

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Learning facilities

Working and learning environments are formed by operating culture and related key factors. Common operating procedures and pedagogic approaches are social factors. Virtual factors, such as technological devices and hardware platforms, complement operations. Modification adaptable facilities, furnishing choices and the surrounding service structure are physical factors directly relevant to the construction project.

Sector division frames the spaces and operations in the building. The first floor lobby, the exhibition space, the café, and the library are invitingly in connection with the world outside. Connections are available to the neighbouring Theatre Academy facilities. The public sector continues on the second floor where common-use teaching and meeting spaces are also located. The secondary entrance comes in through the courtyard, which creates a main-street-like route through the building. Access from the public area to the internal collaboration area is restricted by access control. Spaces supporting internal encounters act as an intermediary zone upon moving from the public area to a more private one. Spaces serving individual and team work requiring concentration are naturally positioned within the innermost zone, in the quietest and least traffic-heavy parts of the building. Communality is the focal baseline for the space solutions. A central space connecting all levels forms the heart of the building. Open encounter spaces are located around the bright centre space, in places with the most traffic. The nature of the meeting points can vary from a café-like space to a free-form working space or even a library.

Structure and building service technology

The practical basic solutions concerning structure and building service technology support functionality, adaptability, and sustainable development. The building framework of the new building will be established using reinforced concrete, made of site cast concrete. The engine room located on the top floor is designed so that enables the building service technology routes to be implemented in all areas of the building as economically, comprehensively, and adaptably as possible. The solutions used in structures and building service technology have previously been presented in their own reports.

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The Kiinteisty Helsingin Kaikukatu 5 building has received the LEED® Gold environmental certification

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Scope information
Old part 1801 brm²

New part 10787 brm²

Total 12588 brm²

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CONSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

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Owner

Veritas Pension Insurance

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Constructor

Kiinteistö Oy Helsingin Kaikukatu 5

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KVR-Contractor

Lujatalo Oy

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Architectural design

Arkkitehtitoimisto JKMM Oy

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