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Part 4.
Recommendation
and benefits
The students and staff from the different Schools of Aalto University will be merged on
the Otaniemi campus. People are put together, clustered in their separate Departments.
The implementation of a University-wide network of spaces creates the possibility for
those using the campus to work and study at different places. When mixing people,
and bringing them together in the available workspaces, the Community is formed.
Through this mingling of people with varied backgrounds, new collaborations
can form, addressing their creativity to achieve successful collaborations, as well
as innovative projects. Such multidisciplinary collaborations can take place in the
Learning Hubs and Factories which already exist on the campus. These concepts can
spread wider across the campus, creating more inspiring spaces for the Community.
At times a Community member might be in need of a separate space, either for
studying or for taking a short break. Such spaces, along with other leisure facilities can
also be developed within the University buildings. Caused by moving and shrinking
of Departments several spaces have become vacant. These vary from basement
storages, to coffee rooms and meeting spaces. By incorporating these spaces, as
well as the existing open learning spaces into the online space library Worknode,
Community members can easily find information about their possibilities and use the
University’s facilities in an agile, flexible way.
The current real estate mindset is fixed
on long terms of use. It looks at revenue
and profit. The world and its societies
and communities are however evolving
at such rapid speed, that this mindset is
impossible to maintain. There is a need
for agility, flexibility, adaptability. People’s
needs change, and the surroundings
should be able to adjust rapidly.
Upon discussions with the Aalto Libraries
team, the benefits are discussed for
integrating the Worknode pages into
the Library’s website. This would ensure
immediate familiarity among the Creative
Community with the website. Furthermore,
as the Learning Hubs currently do not have a
central information point, integrating the pages
would provide in this need at the same time.
In the long run, the Worknode spaces
could be advertised more widely, attracting
professional practices to the campus area.
“An overall trend can be seen that leads
us from possession to use. A sharing
economy, within which a transition from
possessing to using fits. Why would
you need to own lighting? One can
use that, temporarily, and afterwards
return it. The same goes for a car, a
refrigerator, practically everything we
have, what we possess, which we
don't need on a permanent basis.
At most we need it temporarily. [...]
[A]ctually, every product in your house,
in your surroundings, you want to use
temporarily when you need it. If you can
share that with others, it is beneficial for
the economy and the society, and it is
cheaper. So when you think about it
deeply, you think, why didn't we start
doing this earlier?” (Rotmans 2013)
4.1 Space-use
improvements at Aalto
University
The Community of Aalto University would
benefit greatly from the availability of the
currently vacant spaces, and a proper system
and platform to allow their use. The described
system would ideally be implemented in
one of the currently existing platforms Aalto
University uses such as the library website.
This would allow users to maintain the use
of their Aalto credentials, and would ensure
familiarity, trustworthiness and ease of use.
Every available space on the campus
should be taken into use to support studying
and working on the campus. The buildings
will become more lively and vibrant
with various people going in and out.
The Schools and Departments ought to make
an inventory of the (types of) spaces they
require in order to be able to decide on their
genuine spatial need. Upon doing so the
Campus and Facilities Services can assess
the total situation, and make a decision on a
new spatial strategy. This should incorporate
the use of a number of spaces for general
use, such as described above. The Campus
and Facilities Services can then reallocate the
remaining premises, making a contemporary
and reviewed plan, which is adapted
to the changes in studying and working.
4.2 Suggestions
for Aalto University
Properties Ltd.
When AYK decides to terminate a number
of lease contracts and regain the spaces,
they can review the usage. Originally most
buildings on the Otaniemi campus were
designed to accommodate educational
purposes. Finding a new user to occupy the
premises as they are is possible, but looking
into the possibility to redesign the interior
set-up, and focus on a wider target group
by allowing shorter lease terms could yield
more income, and generate wider interest.
AYK could then draw a more varied user
group to the Otaniemi campus, which can
in turn benefit the University’s students.
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