Helsinki-based architecture firm JKMM Architects has completed the new academic building for the University of Helsinki, situated within the historic city fabric. The project, named Think Corner, creates openness and a big urban space on the ground floor, taking visitors directly from the street through its monumental stairs. The building's program features various academic functions including learning spaces, square, office spaces and sports centre. 

The monumental volume features a series of rhythmically-designed windows, while the materiality of the building gives a sense of brightness, softness and offering an inviting feeling due to its cut-out form through the street level.

The firm won an invited competition in 2015 and since then they worked with the University to give fruition to a new space that will make academic life and research more accessible to all Helsinki residents as well as visitors to the capital.

The new building, covering a total of 13,332-square-metre area, is positioned on a prominent corner site opposite the main University building designed by Carl Ludvig Engel in 1832 on one side and on the other it faces Aarne Ervi’s celebrated Porthania building from 1957 that also forms part of the Helsinki University central city campus.

The Think Corner’s timber clad stepped entrances are like outdoor rooms inviting the public in but also creating a generous urban realm that helps mediate between the existing two historic university buildings. 

The studio clad the building with plaster and Finnish granite from Viitasaari giving it the gravitas befitting of the neighbouring neo-classical architectural Engel designed ensemble at Senate Square.

"We wanted the building to add a contemporary layer of architecture between the well-known university buildings. It creates a campus like feel yet has a distinct and unique identity that is about being in the city," explained the project architect Teemu Toivio.

Inside a double story atrium opens the building creating a generous space that feels public. The second floor has further accommodation for the Think Corner including hot desking facilities and events space. 

The third, fourth and fifth floors are dedicated to offices. On the sixth floor at the very top there is a wrap-around balcony with views over central Helsinki.

"We are very interested in design can be used to make an open and fair society. The Think Corner project is about doing just this by introducing new opportunities to people. We hope our building will help do this and that it will feel ‘of Helsinki’ to those from the city as well as to tourists," said Asmo Jaaksi at JKMM.

Floor plan

Elevation

Section

Project facts

Project name: Think Corner

Architect: JKMM

Size of the planning area: 13 332 brm2

Client: University of Helsinki

Schedule: Invited Competition 1st prize 2014, completed autumn 2017

JKMM design team: Asmo Jaaksi, Teemu Toivio, Reetta Aarnio, Christopher Delany, Kirsti Larja, Rami Lehtimäki, Johanna Mustonen, Samuli Miettinen, Teemu Kurkela, Juha Mäki-Jyllilä.

Project team

Structural design: Sweco Rakennetekniikka Oy
HVAC engineering: Insinööritoimisto Leo Maaskola Oy
Electrical engineering: Granlund Oy
Property development consultant: SRV Rakennus Oy

All images © Mika Huisman

> via JKMM Architects