Aalto ARTS presentation at the Art & Design Technical Services Symposium for leading European Academies, hosted by Royal College of Art, London, October 2016

1. Technical Support for
Learning, Research andArtisticActivity at
AaltoARTS
Tapio Koskinen, Head of Technology
Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture
London, October 10, 2016

2. INTRO
ORGANISATION
AND
SPECIALISATION
KEY
CHALLENGES
EXPECTATIONS

3. Aalto University in brief
Foundation-based university of
technology, business, arts and
architecture.
Founded in 2010, when the
Helsinki School of Economics,
Helsinki University of
Technology and University of
Art and Design Helsinki were
merged to form a single
institution.
• 80 000 alumni
• 20 000 students
• 5 000 employees (370
professors)
• Funding 388.8 M€ (2014)
9.10.2016
4
Aalto University
– Where Science and
Art meet Technology
and Business

4. INTRO
ORGANISATION
AND
SPECIALISATION
KEY
CHALLENGES
EXPECTATIONS

5. Dean
Ingmar Björkman
Dean
Anna Valtonen
Dean
Gary Marquis
Dean
Janne Laine
Dean
Risto Nieminen
Dean
Jyri Hämäläinen
Professors’ Council
School of Arts,
Design and
Architecture
School of
Business
School of
Chemical
Technology
School of
Engineering
School of
Science
School of
Electrical
Engineering
Departments Departments DepartmentsDepartments Departments Departments
Academic
Committee
Academic
Committee
Academic
Committee
Academic
Committee
Academic
Committee
Academic
Committee
Aalto University organisation
Provost, Vice Presidents and services
Ilkka Niemelä (Provost), Tuija Pulkkinen (VP, Research and Innovation), Eero Eloranta (VP, Education), Antti Ahlava (VP, Campus Development),
Hannu Seristö (VP, External Relations), Anna Valtonen (VP, Art and Creative Practices), Marianna Bom (Director, Finance), Sirkku Linna (Director, Development),
Tiia Tuomi (Director, Human Resources), Elina Ämmälä (Director, Communications)
President’s Management Team
Tuula Teeri (President)
Aalto University Management Team Academic Affairs Committee
Board
Matti Alahuhta, Chairman of the Board (Chair); Anne Brunila, Professor (Vice Chair); Bengt Holmström, Professor;
Saku Mantere, Professor; Liqiu Meng, Professor; Susanna Pettersson, Museum Director; Colin Whitehouse, Professor

6. • Internationally-acclaimed track record in
artistic activities.
• Strong background in the Finnish design,
architecture and art tradition.
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
7
1,831 undergraduate students (FTE)**
152 post-graduate students*
Aalto ARTS
Faculty 443, 58 of whom are professors
Anna Valtonen
Dean
Teemu Leinonen
Vice Dean
Ossi Naukkarinen
Vice Dean
*The amount of underdraduate students has been presented as a calculatory FTE-number (full time equivalent)
**The amount of post-graduate students

7. School of Arts, Design and Architecture
8
Departments:
Architecture
Film, TV and Scenography
Media
Design
Art The department structure will change in 2017

8. 9.10.2016
9
334 316 301 304 305 308
56
51
48 48 48 48
92
83
81 80 76 76
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
academics, technical and services FTE
Academics Technical support services Services

9. Technical Service at Aalto ARTS
• During the Aalto Service Development project it was decided at
Aalto ARTS that the technical support for learning, research and
artistic activity will be consolidated into one school level service
starting Jan 1st 2015.
• Goals of the re-organization were to
• Make better use of the technical infrastructures of the school and
improve the services based on the technical infrastructures
• Provide better support for multidisciplinary and cross border teaching.
learning and research
• Demonstrate the pioneering learning practices of Aalto ARTS
• Improve cost effectiveness
10.10.2016
10

10. 55 Professionals
Supporting Learning
27 Specialized
Learning Environments

11. ARTS infra 6 teams and 27 specialised
environments
Expression
• Biofilia
• Drawing and Painting
• Sculpture
• Print Making
• Ceramics
• Glass
• Costume Design
Learnsys
• Equipment
• Systems and Workstations
Photo and Print
• Photography
• Printlab
• Blueprinting
Soft Materials
• Pattern making / Fashion
• Weaving
• Knitting
• Sewing
• Textile printing
Solid Materials
• Metal
• Precious Metals
• Proto / CNC and 3D printing
• Wood
• Construction
Media Center
• TV, MocCap & Virtu studio
• Film Studio
• Black Box
• Set Design
• Post production (audio and video)
9.10.2016
12

12. INTRO
ORGANISATION
AND
SPECIALISATION
KEY
CHALLENGES
EXPECTATIONS
1. Campus Development, Moving & New Facilites
2. How to serve more students with less staff?
3. KPIs for tech services.
4. Tech staff identity between faculty and services.

13. Aalto University metro station will open
for public in 2017.
Light rail service is planned for 2021.
Aalto University’s new construction and
renovation investments on campus
(2010-20) are estimated to be >300 M€.

14. The new building (110 M€,
33 000 gross sqm) will be
completed in 2018, it
provides facilities for the
School of Arts, Design and
Architecture.
Design is based on a
winning proposal by
Verstas Architecs in an
international competition.
ARTS infra workshops are
located on the Ground
Floor.
Video duration 2:12 https://youtu.be/hGn7cIF37Y4

15. GROUND FLOOR
Aalto University
New Building
School of Arts Design and Architecture

16. GROUND FLOOR
Aalto University
New Building
School of Arts Design and Architecture
Helsinki Olympic Stadium Football Field 105 m * 70 m

17. Learning Art, Design and Architecture
• The learning model adopted by the school combines theory and practice.
• The spatial solution supports successful implementation of the learning model.
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18
Hands on learning about
materials, techniques and
processes
Problem based learning in
small groups.
Learners
generate
meanings out of
their own actions
and experience
PRACTICETHEORY

18. Learning Spaces for Art, Design and Architecture
9.10.2016
19
PRACTICETHEORY
GENERIC
Learning spaces
LECTURE ROOM
Large Group
STUDIO
Individual study
Peer Learning
Group Learning
LEARNIN CENTER
GALLERY
CAFETERIA
HUB
Informal and
Group Learning
WORKSHOP
Individual study
Peer Learning
Group Learning
Machine Room
INFORMAL
Learning spaces
SPECIALIZED
Learning spaces
SPECIALIZED
Learning spaces
There are two main types of specialized learning spaces at Aalto ARTS that are essential from the point of view of the
generic learning model adopted by the school: Studio and Workshop

19. Finland
Helsinki
Main campus,
Otaniemi
Helsinki
Espoo
The School
of Business,
Töölö
The School
of Arts, Design
and Architecture,
Arabia
From three Campuses into One
Aalto University focuses its operations on the main campus
School of Arts, Design and Architecture will move in 2018
School of Economics will move by 2020
One school
1800 students
55 tech staff
Six schools
20 000 students
80 (45) tech staff

20. Concrete actions have been developed for all chosen development areas
The progress is monitored by the management team
How do we ensure our
professional
development?
How can we promote the
culture of feedback in
our work community?
How do we ensure safe
working conditions
(indoor air, workshop
introductions)?
Defining concrete development actions
ARTS infra personnel survey results processed

21. INTRO
ORGANISATION
AND
SPECIALISATION
KEY
CHALLENGES
EXPECTATIONS

22. Expectations
• Light network structure – avoid bureaucracy
• Involve workshop staff
• Utilise existing organisations and programmes (Cumulus,
Erasmus…)
• Bench Learning
• Staff exchange programme
10/10/16
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23. 24
aalto.fi
Towards a better world.