New users to renovated Aalto University Töölö
The extensive renovation of the former main building of the School of Business, now called Aalto University Töölö, has been completed and operations in the building have started in early 2021. Two new users have been secured in the renovated office spaces on the upper floors of the A wing of the iconic building; Helsinki Education Hub and the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies.
Helsinki Education Hub is the first in the world to combine learning and education startups, Finnish pedagogic competence, innovative learning environment and academic research into one coherent world-class export product. The core functions comprise collaboration and exhibition facilities for learning and education technology companies, consultancy services for growth companies, incubation activities, a space for learning and experiments, and shared and targeted events and trainings. In addition, the Hub will be accompanied by a learning and education accelerator, which helps companies to scale up into the international market.
”Helsinki aims to be the learning capital of the world. Starting its operations in Aalto Töölö in autumn 2021, Helsinki Education Hub is a concrete step towards this goal,” says Helsinki Education Hub project lead Mia-Stiina Heikkala. “Aalto Töölö’s facilities are versatile and bright and are perfectly suited to our extensive learning and education community. Young growth entrepreneurs, researchers as well as teachers and learners can easily enter the space. In addition, Aalto Töölö’s history as a leading business school provides an excellent framework for learning and education innovations and business opportunities. We are also looking forward to networking with the actors in the building.”
The Federation of Finnish Learned Societies will move to Aalto Töölö in spring 2021 for evacuation premises. The Federation is a national co-operative body for learned societies in Finland. It contributes to the co-operation between learned societies, supports and develops scholarly communication and publishing, and promotes awareness and usage of research results.
“The Federation’s meeting and seminar activities bring the activities of learned societies and scientific volunteering to Aalto Töölö as a significant part of the Finnish scientific community and the social impact of science,” says Lea Ryynänen-Karjalainen, Executive Director of The Federation of Finnish Learned Societies. “Transferring operations to Aalto Töölö during the renovation of the House of Science was an easy decision – the building is an integral part of the history and future of higher education and research.”
Executive education and a restaurant open to everyone
In February 2021, Restaurant Töölö opened a restaurant open to everyone in the premises of the former student restaurant Rafla. In addition, Restaurant Töölö operates the building’s beautiful banquet hall and auditorium, where various parties, concerts, dinners and seminars can be organised.
The main occupant of Aalto Töölö is Aalto University Executive Education Ltd (Aalto EE), which provides executive education and leadership development services globally. Owned by Aalto University and one of the world’s 50 best coaches, Aalto University Executive Education has created the largest concentration of management and expertise development in the Nordic countries in Aalto Töölö.