Property strategy update: alternatives specified during the autumn
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What is a property strategy and why is it needed?
The property strategy guides the management and development of property, i.e. premises, buildings and plots. The facilities must serve the university's core tasks, research and education, in the best possible way.
Due to the need to renovate the building stock of the Linnanmaa and Kontinkangas campuses, the university is facing the most extensive change in the property portfolio since the establishment of the campuses. A property strategy is needed to guide this change.
The university's property costs will increase significantly from the current level if we continue with the current amount of facilities and renovate and improve and change them. This money would be taken away from research and education.
The property strategy is used to steer the life cycle and investments of properties so that the university has facilities that are financially and functionally sustainable.
Campus scenarios based on a facility needs survey
The property strategy is based on a space needs assessment covering all faculties and units, on the basis of which future space concepts were defined and three alternative campus scenarios were identified for the implementation of future space needs. Read more about the need for premises and concepts in the previous news.
"There were surprisingly many synergies in the use of space between different faculties and functions. This is excellent, because property costs can only be significantly reduced by reducing the number of facilities in use," says Property Manager Vesa-Heikki Kemppainen.
Space needs for campus scenarios specified
Scenario 1: One new campus in Kontinkangas ~73,400 htm2, space reduction of -40% compared to the current
Scenario 2: Two campuses, one new 17,300 m2 in Kontinkangas and 76,700 m2 of the Linnanmaa campus, i.e. a total of 94,000 m2, a reduction of -23% compared to the current
Scenario 3: Two campuses, one new 52,600 m2 in Kontinkangas and one new 23,000 m2 in a new location closer to Kontinkangas than the current Linnanmaa campus, a total of 75,600 m2, a reduction of -38% compared to the current location
In addition, each scenario includes a "Living Room of Science" in the centre of Oulu, approximately 1,000 htm2.
"All three scenario options are now being specified, and none of them have been selected or ruled out at this stage. Kontinkangas is involved in every scenario and a new campus will be built there. It is being prepared in different sizes," Vesa-Heikki Kemppainen explains.
Selection criteria for the campus option
As a criterion for choosing between the scenarios, the Board of Directors of the University of Oulu has decided that property costs should remain at around 11% of the university’s total costs. The overall financial assessment also takes into account the impact of each campus option on the university’s assets, depending on the chosen form of property ownership – that is, whether the premises are rented or built on the university’s own balance sheet.
Other selection criteria include:
- Adaptability and versatility of the premises, based on an activity-oriented and flexible model of space use, as well as synergy and cooperation across unit boundaries
- Joining the urban structure, including transport connections and services, as well as possible locations of stakeholders nearby.
- Responsibility and sustainability
- Attraction factors to ensure the future of the University of Oulu also in the coming decades.
The financial impact assessment to support the university is carried out by KPMG and the construction costs are calculated by AINS Group. The possible locations of the campuses are assessed and compared by the School of Architecture of the University of Oulu, and the accessibility of the campuses is compared by the Regional Excellence Research Group of the Kerttu Saalasti Institute of the University of Oulu.
The target schedule for the selection of the final scenario is November 2025.
Public interest in the Oulu Experience Arena project
On 8 October, the City of Oulu announced that it had selected the Raksila 2.0 consortium formed by SRV and Trevian as the implementer of the Oulu Experience Arena project. The plan for Raksila 2.0 includes a reservation of approximately 30,000 square metres of floor space for a education and business premises block on the site of the former courthouse and police station.
"The plans for the arena project have been presented to the university and we are aware of the possibilities, but no commitments have been made related to them," says Vesa-Heikki Kemppainen.
"We are preparing all three campus scenarios described above for decision-making by the board, and there are several location options for the new potential campus location in scenario 3."