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Completed in 1966, this unique and radical building was the first project co-designed by Raili and Reima Pietilä. Initially, the building was owned by the Student Union of Helsinki University of Technology; Aalto University Properties bought the building a few years ago. On 19 April, Provost Ilkka Niemelä, Development Manager Sirkku Linna and Workspace Manager Päivi Hietanen told the staff of Lämpömiehenkuja 2 about Dipoli as a working environment and about the move coming in late summer. At this moment, finishing touches and yard work are being done in the building. Furnishing the facilities will begin at the end of June.

Dipoli is a part of Aalto University campus plan

'I don't think any other university has a building as unique as this.  Dipoli is an integral part of the implementation of the University strategy and campus plan. A key objective at Aalto is to turn the campus into a collaboration hub that attracts also external partners. We are centralising functions to Otaniemi and making the structure of the campus more condensed. Schools have undergone big moves; for example Aalto ELEC has moved away from the Otakaari 5 building, which is now being renovated as an entrepreneurial centre', described Ilkka Niemelä.

'Dipoli will encompass many functions for the entire University: there will be events and meetings, facilities for employees and students, as well as restaurants, exhibition facilities and art. University management and some of the joint services staff will be working in the facilities. Work will be carried out in activity-based offices, using mobile and digital tools, and new ways of working will also be tested. Dipoli will provide new kinds of opportunities for cooperation within the whole University and with partners’, Niemelä continued.

Finishing touches are being done inside and outside Dipoli before the building opens to the public after the summer. Photo Kalle Kataila.
 

Office spaces support new ways of working

Aalto CRE Workspace Manager Päivi Hietanen explained the upcoming facilities and functions at Dipoli in more detail.
‘Aalto personnel, partners and students alike participated in creating the Dipoli operational concept and vision. The building will become a low-threshold meeting place for the whole community, and it will be the University's joint main building.’

‘The building will be used for learning and working together and alone. Adhering to the Aalto space guidelines, the office spaces have been designed as activity-based offices and shared environments to support diverse various types of working. There will be two basic types of desks for over a hundred people: dedicated workstations for ‘”anchors” and shared ones for “mobiles”. There are plenty of negotiation spaces with digital door displays showing the availability status. In the basement, there are changing rooms and showers for people commuting for example on bike', Hietanen explains.

There will be five Fazer Restaurants at Dipoli: a student and staff restaurant, an à la carte restaurant, a bistro and two cafés. The activities of Aalto University and its Schools will be highlighted in different ways, and the facilities will also be decorated with artwork. In the future, mainly the University’s and students’ own events will be organised at Dipoli, but Aalto University partners will also be able to organise events there.

Move in July-August

Sirkku Linna explained the practical aspects of the move.
‘This spring, work profiles of Lämpömiehenkuja staff and a placement plan for the new premises will be made. In May, there will be workshops thinking about new ways of working and common rules needed. According to the current plans, moving days will be 31 July and 1 August, and more specific information will be coming in June.’

Results of the network analysis and workplace survey conducted on the staff at Lämpömiehenkuja 2 in March and April were also presented. The information collected in the survey will be used when planning the new placements and the move.

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