The Student Center is being planned to Otaniemi by Aalto University Student Union (AYY), Aalto University Business Students (KY) and Teknologföreningen (TF). The project’s main objective is to create an interdisciplinary meeting place for every student in Aalto University. KY’s target in the project is also that the center would provide an excellent level of service for KY members and act as a home for KY’s members for a long time.
History of the Student Center project
In 2011, Teknologföreningen (TF) knew that their current building either needed renovation in the near future or that new facilities for the organization needed to be built. Aalto University Business Students (KY) faced the same issue with its current KY building. TF also wanted to create a central meeting place in Otaniemi for Aalto students. Because KY was going to move to Otaniemi, TF and KY started investigating if their facility updates could be a joint project. After several case-studies, it was determined that the Kemisti block near the metro and center of Otaniemi would be the best location for the organizations’ facilities.
Meanwhile, the Aalto University Student Union (AYY) dreamt that all Aalto people could find their place in the community, encounter one another, and build the Aalto spirit. AYY joined the project in 2016, embarking on their biggest and most concrete step towards this dream. In 2017, AYY, KY and TF developed and approved of common pre-conditions for the project.
The Student Center will be a place where all three organizations can thrive and maintain their own unique identities. It will have convenient services, spaces to chill with friends, and opportunities to encounter new people and ideas. All Aalto people will have a reason to visit the Student Center.
Latest news: KY is reallocating time and resources from the Student Center Project
KY is reallocating time and resources from the Student Center Project towards looking into other options for our long-term spatial solutions. This comes after considerable deliberation on whether we are pleased with the progress of the project, and things are not moving forward as planned.
KY is not leaving the project, but rather we are re-evaluating our options for the time being. As of now, the project is in a stage where moving it forward is not dependent on our input . We will still be working with AYY and TF when or if our input is needed to move the project forward.We still believe the Student Center will be built in some shape or form, but we need to make sure KY has all of its options mapped out
Best regards,
Rasmus Ylinen / KY