Otaniemi – a unique innovation hub

The Aalto University campus is a truly unique collaborative environment. It has rapidly grown into a world-class collaboration hub. The School of Arts, Design and Architecture moved to Otaniemi in 2018, and the School of Business in 2019.

The heart of Aalto University's business cooperation is at the A Grid Centre where the Aalto Startup Center can be found, as well as 140 companies and communities, such as the business incubator of the European Space Agency ESA and the United Nations technology laboratory.

Aalto University’s building Väre opened to the public in 2018. Väre gathers all departments of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture under one roof. In addition to the premises of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, the investment includes also the building of the university's shared facilities and a shopping centre A Bloc at the Aalto University metro station.

Otaniemi campus has been renewed in many ways during the recent years. The refurbished Dipoli building has been given a new lease of life and now serves as Aalto University’s main building. The Alvar Aalto-designed university library from 1970 has also been renovated to create a state-of-the-art learning centre, while Helsinki University of Technology’s former main building in Otakaari 1 has been updated to create the so-called Undergraduate Centre.

At the moment Otaniemi is best known as a start-up, business and learning district. In the future it will be more versatile and will have more residents.

In Otaniemi, the focus will be on the Aalto University premises. Otaniemi has also become more closely connected with nearby Tapiola and the metro line has connected the area more closely to Helsinki. The light rail line has improved the accessibility and competitiveness of Aalto University and the science community in Otaniemi.

Denser construction is being planned for the centre of Otaniemi. The Kemisti area, located near the Aalto University metro station, will offer facilities for academic and research activities, housing, organisations and services.

The Biologi area, located between Otaniemen lukio and Maarintie, will include housing, a day care centre, as well as teaching, office, and commercial facilities for Aalto University.

The development of Otaniemi goes hand in hand with that of Keilaniemi, as these two areas will eventually merge into an unbroken urban area. Located between Otaniemi and Keilaniemi is so called Kivimies area that will be home to 3,000 residents in the future.

Kivimies’ construction will begin in the mid 2020s, and it will be mostly completed by the early 2030.