University of Helsinki to renovate its Porthania building

Helsinki University Properties Ltd has decided to invest in an extensive renovation of Porthania. Completed in 1957, the building is a central part of the University of Helsinki’s City Centre Campus and a significant representative of Finnish modern architecture. The renovation will ensure that the building will serve teaching, research and events at the University through modern facility solutions in the coming decades. 

Teaching facilities and workspaces for future needs 

The goal of the renovation is to update Porthania to meet the growing needs of blended teaching and hybrid work. The building’s technical services, facades and roofs will be upgraded, while the interior will be made increasingly flexible and user-oriented. Solutions are being designed for teaching facilities that support various teaching modes, from lectures to small-group work and the use of online platforms. 

Workspaces and meeting facilities will also be revamped to support academic work, inclusivity and the University’s goals for an engaging campus environment. Functionality and accessibility in the main lobby will be improved, and the building will be made an increasingly integral part of the service and facility network of the City Centre Campus. 

Valuable architecture and art focus 

Designed under the direction of architect Aarne Ervi, Porthania is one of his most famous buildings. The renovation will be carried out in close cooperation with the Finnish Heritage Agency to preserve the building’s architectural identity and historic interiors. 

The artworks familiar from the building – Eteenpäin ja ylöspäin by Arvid Broms, Kehrä by Olli Miettinen and Helsinki by Eduardo Chillida – will be taken into consideration at all stages of the renovation. In connection with the project, a new public work of art will also be added to the building to enrich its cultural heritage. 

Schedule and progress 

We are acting as the principal and architectural designer in a project alliance formed together with Helsinki University Properties Ltd and and the construction company SRV. Plans for the repairs are developed in collaboration with the building’s users. Next, a construction permit will be applied for.  

Following the vacation of Porthania’s premises in summer 2026, the renovation is expected to commence in the autumn. The building will reopen in autumn 2028.