Espoo will lease a plot for a fire station in Otaniemi – student housing to be built in connection with it
The plot to be leased for the fire station is located near the intersection of Tapiolantie and Miestentie. The project is unique because the fire station will be built as part of an apartment block.
Espoo will lease a plot of land to the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County of (LUVN).
Apartments for the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region (Hoas) will be built in connection with the fire station, and student housing for Aalto University Student Union (AYY) next to it. The fire station and Hoas’ student housing will be built as if they are two properties on top of each other: the fire station will be located downstairs, and some of the student housing on top of it and some next to it.
The fire station and the student housing of both Hoas and AYY constitute the Aalto Village 2 project, whose construction is currently undergoing a competitive tendering process. Construction is due to begin at the end of 2026 or beginning of 2027. The project will complete Aalto Village, a development project that the student housing already completed in 2019 is also a part of.
The planning of the fire station was initiated as a project of the city. In the health and social services reform in 2023, it was transferred to Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County when the responsibility for organising rescue services was transferred from municipalities to the wellbeing services counties.
The vibrancy of Otaniemi will be increased
The buildings will complement Otaniemi as a residential area. They are part of a wider change in which Otaniemi will be developed from a place of study and work into a more vibrant suburb.
The new fire station will have a central location in connection with the concentration of housing, workplaces, services and studies formed by Otaniemi, Keilaniemi and Tapiola.
The Business and Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Espoo City Board will decide on leasing the plot in its meeting on 2 November. The lease period is 60 years.