Locations

Dipoli

Dipoli is the main building of Aalto University, and a popular meeting place. Dipoli was originally designed in 1966 by Raili and Reima Pietilä as the new university building for technology students.
Dipolin-penkit.jpg
Image: Aalto University / Mikko Raskinen

Dipoli lobby, tel. 0505112195
[email protected]

Dipoli custodians, tel. 0294420007
dipoli-info@aalto

About the building

Designed by Reima Pietilä and Raili Paatelainen (later Pietilä), Dipoli was completed in 1966 and served as the student house of Helsinki University of Technology for a long time. After that, Dipoli served as a conference centre for several decades. It was previously renovated in the 1980s. The second renovation of the 11 000-square-metre building took two years and was completed in summer 2017 as the Aalto University main building.

Many of the facilities were restored to their original appearance, such as staircases that had been closed were reopened, roof windows that had been covered were uncovered, and unnecessary partition walls were taken down. The seven fireplaces in the building were renovated and the shiny granite floor installed in the 1980s was given a matt surface, which goes better with the interior. Some of the concrete walls that had been repainted were restored to their original appearance. The air-conditioning and heating systems were replaced: today, geothermal heat is used to cover around 50 per cent of the heating requirements in the building.

Approximately one percent of the renovation costs was spent on the university’s art acquisitions in accordance with the art percentage principle. Dipoli's art collection's concept is Radical Nature.

Known for its multifunctional spaces, the building continues to function as a meeting place. In addition to being used for the university's own events, its facilities are also open to the public. Dipoli can host dinners for up to a thousand people or up to 30 separate events simultaneously. The bedrock and surrounding forest have inspired the sculptural copper and granite facade, which is a Finnish architectural gem.
 

In the building:

Dipoli 360° space tour

Explore Dipoli and its event and conference facilities through a 360° space tour. Move from room to room and look around at the iconic main building of Aalto University.

See Dipoli in 360
Aalto University / Dipoli / photo: Markus Sommers
Campus maps, addresses and opening hours in Otaniemi

Book a venue for your event at the Aalto University campus

Aalto University offers versatile and high-quality facilities for different kinds of events. More than 100 spaces are available and they are located on the Otaniemi campus.

Find your venue
Dipoli events

News

Outdoors areas and pedestrian routes will be improved near Otakaari 1 and Dipoli

The pedestrian connection from the metro to Dipoli and the Amphitheater Square area will be improved during the autumn of 2021. The aim is to create comfortable, versatile, safe and accessible outdoor areas, respecting original design solutions and implementations. The construction sites will start already in August.

Dipoli ilmakuva

Europe’s largest hackathon Junction takes over Aalto University

Aalto’s main building Dipoli will turn into a giant hackathon community on 24–26 November. Over 1400 coders and designers from all over the world will come together to solve real-life challenges.

junction_hackathon_aalto_en_en.jpg

Dipoli - living room for everyone

The building’s third life is as the main building of Aalto University. Welcome for a visit!

dipoli_main_en_en.jpg

Aalto University implements the art percent principle: Dipoli's new art collection

The artists of the works are Aalto University alumni and represent numerous different fields of art.

Hans-Christian Berg's site-specific artwork at the festive staircase of Dipoli: Color Space – Color Lensing blind, 2017, 200 x 280 x 18 cm, acrylics. Photo: Aalto University/Mikko Raskinen.

Updated Dipoli opens on Aalto University campus

The refurbished building is a meeting place for the whole Aalto community.

Resplendent Dipoli emerging from renovation

A thorough renovation of the tradition-rich Dipoli building is nearing completion.

Photo: Kalle Kataila.
School of business students sitting in front of the campus and laughing

Campus

Aalto University's campus in Otaniemi is the home of an innovative community.

Explore the campus virtually at virtualtour.aalto.fi.

Students with bicycles in Otaniemi

Aalto University Campus & Real Estate - ACRE

Aalto University Campus & Real Estate (ACRE) maintains, develops and rents out Aalto University facilities in Otaniemi and Töölö. We also build new concepts and shared facilities for parties outside the university, thus turning Otaniemi into a unique partnership centre and the most inspiring campus in the world.

Campus
  • Published:
  • Updated: