Teknologföreningen’s student association building Urdsgjallar to be protected – new student housing also planned in the area
The Espoo City Board will discuss the Teknologföreningen detailed plan and the related plan amendment on 2 March. The aim is to protect the original student association building Urdsgjallar and enable the construction of student housing on the plot.
Located in Otaniemi on a plot owned by the Swedish-speaking student association Teknologföreningen, the Urdsgjallar building is in need of renovation. The association has so far maintained the building with the help of the student-run restaurant Täffä. In order to enable the renovation of the building, infill construction is needed on the plot.
In addition to protecting Urdsgjallar, the detailed plan will enable the construction of student housing on the plot. The planned apartment building will have 1–6 storeys and it will be built around the protected building, rising towards the north. It will also be possible to build other facilities in the area that serve the operations of the university campus. New kitchen facilities will be built for Restaurant Täffä in the new building.
The plot’s location in a nationally significant built cultural environment (RKY) will be taken into account in infill construction. Natural values will also be taken into consideration, as there is a flying squirrel movement corridor that will be protected in the northern and eastern parts of the area.