Construction of New Multi-purpose Building Begins on Campus in Turku

​Media representatives are welcome to the briefing 24 May 2018 at 12pm at the Gadolinia building of Åbo Akademi University (Auditorium A) at Porthaninkatu 3–5. At the same venue, an open discussion session on the project will be held at 1pm, and a name competition for the new building will be announced.

The new building will be completed in spring 2021 and put into operation the same autumn. The construction will begin on 14 May 2018 by demolishing of the old Juslenia building and by quarrying, which are expected to be completed in January 2019. After the demolishing and quarrying, the construction will begin, and it is expected to be completed in April 2021. 

The new building is part of the Scientia Aboensis co-operation between Åbo Akademi University and the University of Turku. The main users of the new building will be the Faculty of Science and Engineering of Åbo Akademi University and the Department of Chemistry of the University of Turku. Other users include the Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku and the Library.

The building will host facilities and laboratories for teaching and research, facilities for companies, a gym and a restaurant. The facilities of the new and inviting building will be versatile and flexible, and contribute to positive synergy. The solutions will support common activities and shared services, and ensure high utilisation rate and economic use of space.

– Scientific and technological top research is experimental to a great extent, which creates high demands for the infrastructure. The equipment and laboratories must constantly be developed and renewed. The universities can together invest even more in the infrastructure under one roof. For society’s benefit, this will be manifested in international-level research results and result in even more highly educated Masters, engineers, and doctors, says the Rector of Åbo Akademi University Mikko Hupa.

– A new concrete collaboration platform for the operations of Åbo Akademi University and the University of Turku will strengthen the co-operation between our universities, especially in the fields of natural sciences and technology. “University Hill” will now become “Universities Hill” – and, also, one of the strongest centres for natural sciences in Finland, says the Rector of the University of Turku Kalervo Väänänen.

The total volume of the building will be 23,000 gross square metres, and it will serve as a uniting building when moving from Åbo Akademi University to the University Hill. The main architect is Piia Viitanen from Aihio Arkkitehdit architectural firm, and the leading project contractor is Skanska Talonrakennus. The principles of sustainable development will be followed in the construction, and the goal is to obtain the second highest BREEAM environmental certification for the building.

The objective is to execute the construction work in such a way that the operations on campus and in the nearby area are disturbed as little as possible. The residents of the area have been actively contacted already at this stage of the project, and it has been stated that the infra solutions and traffic arrangements in the nearby area will be improved in connection with the project, which will result in alternative parking arrangements.