Architects: JKMM Architects
Area: 13,000 m²
Year: 2021
Photography: Tuomas Uusheimo, Marc Goodwin, Hannu Rytky, Mika Huisman, Asmo Jaaksi, Niclas Mäkelä
Lead Architect: Asmo Jaaksi
Leading Project Architect: Teemu Toivio
Project Architects: Jussi Vepsäläinen, Katja Savolainen
Design team: Reetta Aarnio, Jussi Eskelinen, Matus Pajor, Svenja Lindner, Teemu Kurkela, Samuli Miettinen, Juha Mäki-Jyllilä, Päivi Meuronen, Noora Liesimaa, Sanna von Bruun, Paula Salonen, Elina Niemi
Contractor: Lujatalo Oy
Structural Design: Vahanen Oy
Electrical Engineering: Sitowise Oy
Geotechnical Engineering: Pöyry Finland Oy
Acoustics: Akukon Oy
HVAC Engineering: Sitowise Oy
Audiovisual Design: Ramboll Finland Oy
Fire Consultant: L2 Paloturvallisuus Oy
Client: Veritas Pension Insurance
City: Helsinki
Country: Finland

The University of the Arts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts, designed by JKMM Architects, merges historical industrial architecture with contemporary design. Completed in 2021, the 13,000 m² building in Helsinki’s Sörnäinen district includes a central courtyard, a rooftop terrace, and advanced facilities for fine arts and performing arts education. The project reflects the area’s industrial heritage while fostering collaboration and artistic growth.

University of the arts helsinki / jkmm architects

Housed in an architecturally striking structure, the Academy of Fine Arts provides state-of-the-art spaces for students and staff to engage in artistic education and creation. By incorporating existing structures, the building respects the historical essence of Sörnäinen, a once-industrial neighborhood that has evolved into a lively urban environment.

The architecture, tailored to the needs of fine arts, lighting, sound design, and performing arts students, provides spacious, well-lit, and versatile environments. The modifiable design accommodates a variety of artistic expressions, from intimate to large-scale works. This approach ensures that the spaces facilitate rather than constrain creativity.

Responding to the requirements of future artists, the Academy features a contemporary maker space equipped with advanced technologies. Its raw material palette and spatial openness encourage artistic interaction and transformation, allowing students to adapt the space to their needs and imagination.

Uniarts Helsinki, comprising the Academy of Fine Arts and the Theatre Academy, forms a unified creative campus. The two academies are connected via a reimagined modernist silo structure at the site’s center. The exposed concrete frame of the silo contributes to the architectural character and serves as a focal point.

The Theatre Academy, located in a remodeled soap factory, has been partially adapted by JKMM Architects. Adjacent to this, a converted electrical works building has been repurposed to provide additional facilities for the Academy of Fine Arts. This seamless integration introduces a contemporary architectural layer to the historic setting. Referred to as “Mylly” (Finnish for “The Mill”) in homage to the previous building, the design reflects industrial heritage with its brick façade, defined by deep-set windows and minimalistic aesthetic.

A top-lit courtyard, spanning five stories and featuring a dramatic steel staircase, acts as the dynamic core of the 13,000 m² building. The staircase diagonally connects multiple levels, fostering interaction among students and linking studios and learning spaces. The ground floor includes a public gallery, while the rooftop terrace offers expansive city views and serves as an outdoor space for art-making and exhibitions.

The lead architect, Asmo Jaaksi, emphasized that the design vision aimed to create a space fostering connection and flexibility while grounding the structure in its urban surroundings.