Co-creation of a future learning centre
By 2021, all the Aalto University’s activities will be centred on a single campus. This means that the university’s three main libraries – for Technology, Design and Business – needed to be brought together under one roof.
Tuomas Uusheimo: AALTO 20161103, Aalto-yliopiston Oppimiskeskus / Aalto University Learning Centre, Espoo, Finland
Key figures:
200+
Students involved
15
Developed service concepts in use
40,000+
Visitors per month since re-opening
The challenge
“Why would I go to the Learning Centre if almost all the world’s content is available via my laptop or phone on the couch at home?”
To tackle the challenge of three actors coming together, Kuudes decided to create three service design teams to co-design the Learning Centre concept with the facilitation of Kuudes’ professional service designers. Each of the teams comprised students, teachers, researchers and other stakeholders mainly from the discipline in question.
Our goal was to find a new service concept that supports the library’s change from a traditional borrowing and lending environment to a lively multichannel Learning Centre. A centre that supports learning both individually and in groups, serves as an inviting meet-up hub, and is an ideal place to showcase the university’s activities. To make this reality, we adopted a three-phase approach to the design process.
The solution
Service promise: Learning together makes us
the best in the world
Information & Learning
We help you understand and quickly find the best academic content
Working
We offer versatile and inspiring spaces for working and learning, alone or in groups
Events & Networking
We offer a context for you to meet people with similar interests
Personal Productivity
We encourage better daily routines for working and studying
New services through co-design
“The service design project has inspired us with a new way to look at the work I have been doing since the 1980s. I’m not pigeonholed – I’m in contact with customers. I thought that age was an obstacle to renewal, but it’s not!”
–Employee
Science & Art Square
“It’s been amazing how well we’ve collaborated, making research a little closer to everyday activities and the students.”
– Employee
Lock and Load Service
“The lockers which allow students to store and charge their electrical devices have been heavily used.”
– Employee
Cave Room
“I have been here every day for the last two weeks – it’s a great space!”
-Visitor
Digital archive
“I take care of the digital information with cultural heritage. Researchers and students use our work.”
– Employee at the new visual resource center
24/7 Working Space
“A space to work before deadlines has been really useful for me”
– Student
Impact
1. An improved employee experience
Thanks to employee participation, staff members from the different schools became a single unit and got to reimagine their own future roles.
“I’m excited about my job in a whole new way!”
– Employee
2. A shift towards customer orientation
The user-centric design process has also been used as a reference for developing Aalto University’s general guidelines for spatial design.
“The customers themselves have created exactly the environment they need.”
– Employee
3. The centre has been embraced by its users
In the first few months after the opening an average of 25,000 visitors per month used the new centre.
“I just came back from a study break and I’ve been here every day for the past two weeks.”
– Student
Execution & recognition
Our concept documentation worked as a brief for the actual renovation planning and interior architecture of the new Learning Centre, including a roadmap for concept implementation and beta-testing. Lead architects in charge were Teemu Tuomi and Tuomo Remes of NRT Architects and the interior design is by Päivi Meuronen of JKMM Architects.
After the opening, the Learning Centre has been awarded the following prizes:
- HURRAA! award by the Building Control Committee of the City of Espoo in August 2016.
- Finlandia prize for Architecture for the renovation planning in October 2017.
For more information contact:
Jari Danielsson
CEO, Kuudes Nordic
+358 40 730 9612
jari.danielsson@kuudes.com
Photographers: Tuomas Uusheimo, Juuso Salakka
