Dipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects

Dipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects - Lighting, Chair, BeamDipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects - Image 3 of 50Dipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects - CityscapeDipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects - ChairDipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects - More Images+ 45

  • Architects: ALA Architects
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  12400
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2017
  • Photographs
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Aurubis, Artisan Rinaldo, Idea-Puu, Kiimingin kaluste, Melodrama, OUTrading, Suur-Helsingin Kirvestyö, Vanalinna Ehitus
  • Original Design: Raili & Reima Pietilä
  • Collaborators: Aalto University Properties (client), Workspace (office space concept), Creadesign (service design), Kristo Vesikansa (conservation), Ramboll Finland (building services engineering), Palotekninen insinööritoimisto Markku Kauriala (fire safety), Vahanen Group (structural design), Tuuli Sotamaa (interior design), Helimaki Acoustics (acoustics design), Suurkeittiö-Insinööritoimisto Rita Pulli (kitchen design), NCC Building (main contractor)
  • Architect In Charge: ALA Architects
  • City: Espoo
  • Country: Finland
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Dipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects - Facade
© Tuomas Uusheimo

Text description provided by the architects. Dipoli, the listed iconic and experimental student union building of Helsinki University of Technology designed by Raili and Reima Pietilä and completed in 1966 has gone through a complete renovation and gotten a new life as the main building of Aalto University. The building reopened for fall semester 2017.

Dipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects - Chair
© Tuomas Uusheimo

Dipoli will function as a meeting place for the university administration, the academic community, the students and other stake holders. All of these parties have been activated in the spatial re-design process that turned the building into a sustainable, flexible workspace of the future. In addition to housing the administration, Dipoli will also continue to function as the prime location for important lecture events and university festivities, as well as act as a display platform for the university’s research and design projects. Dipoli’s restaurants, cafeterias and bar cater for both students and staff members.

Section
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Dipoli is Aalto University’s test lab for flexible working methods and mobile work. Two hundred of the university’s administrative employees will use the building as their base. The design team’s aim was to re-radicalize Dipoli by creating a fresh, open and dynamic user experience, not forgetting the original designers’ vision.

Dipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects - Chair
© Tuomas Uusheimo
Ground Floor Plan
Dipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects - Image 27 of 50
© Tuomas Uusheimo

The building, located on the edge of the Alvar Aalto designed Otaniemi campus, is the result of an architectural competition organized in 1961, where the Pietiläs’ entry was originally awarded shared 2nd prize and later selected as the winner of the second competition organized between the two 2nd prize winners. The renovation was part of the larger campus reorganization project linked to the former Helsinki University of Technology campus becoming the main campus of Aalto University, born out of the merger of three Helsinki area universities.

Dipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects - Image 23 of 50
© Tuomas Uusheimo

Prior to the renovation Dipoli functioned as a conference center for a period of 20 years.

Dipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects - Windows
© Tuomas Uusheimo

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Project location

Address:Otakaari 24, 02150 Espoo, Finland

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Dipoli - Aalto University Main Building / ALA Architects" 04 Dec 2017. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/884666/dipoli-aalto-university-main-building-ala-architects> ISSN 0719-8884

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