Did the campus tour leave you with only a vague impression of the corridors of Hervanta campus? Perhaps you're wondering how to find the lecture hall for the courses that are just about to start? Maybe you're just curious to know what Hervanta campus has hidden within its walls?
The LuuppiSanomat editorial team set out to find answers to these questions so you wouldn't have to wander around lost on a campus that might still be unfamiliar to you.
So, let's hop on the tram, which will take us to Hervanta Duo.
Etunurtsi
As we pass under Hervannan valtaväylä, we arrive at the campus, and in front of us opens up Etunurtsi (the front yard) — the favorite hangout spot for every Hervanta student, especially during Wappu. We also spot two Hervanta artworks: Aallonmurtaja and Obeliski.
When arriving at the campus, you can see a tall, mirror-like tower known as Obeliski.
Tietotalo
From the underpass tunnel, we head into the first building on left — Tietotalo. As you enter, the campus's main corridor opens up in front of you, allowing you to move indoors from one building to another across the entire campus. However, the ongoing renovations at Hervanta campus can sometimes make navigating the campus a bit more confusing.
Tietotalo houses many lecture and office spaces, particularly for computer science and mathematics. On the first floor, you'll find Café Bitti and Restaurant Hertsi. On the second floor of Tietotalo, there is one of Hervanta campus’s EXAM rooms and a docking micro-classroom where you can connect your laptop to the workstations available in the room.
In the basement of Tietotalo, right at the corner of Kampusareena and Sähkötalo, you'll also find the guild room of the Computer Science Guild TiTe in room TA015, as well as the TT cameras clubroom in the same corridor, where members of the club can rent equipment for photography.
View from the second floor of the Tietotalo building towards the door facing Hervannan valtaväylä.
On the second floor of Tietotalo, you’ll find a docking micro-classroom.
Restaurant Hertsi is located on the first floor of Tietotalo.
Opposite to Hertsi, you'll find the Tietotalo info desk and Café Bitti.
You can access the TiTe guild room by going through the glass door at the corridor behind Café Bitti and then taking the stairs down. The corridor also has restrooms.
Sähkötalo
As we continue down the main corridor, the next building is Sähkötalo. The lobby of Sähkötalo hosts various events, during which the area fills with booths from companies or organizations.
In the basement of Sähkötalo, you'll find Fablab, where you can create everything from printed mugs to 3D prints. Before using the space, you must register as a Fablab user, and the equipment needs to be reserved in advance through Resource Booker. Please note that using CNC milling machines, SLA printers, and embroidery machines requires a short training session. Other equipment can be used without training, but you can always ask Fablab instructors for assistance.
In the basement of Sähkötalo, known as Skellari, there are several guild rooms, including the Hiukkanen guild room in room SA025. From Sähkötalo, you can access both Rakennustalo and Kampusareena, the latter of which we'll visit next.
On the lower floor of Tietotalo, you'll find the Fablab, which includes 3D printers, laser cutters, a transfer printer, as well as embroidery and sewing machines.
Besides the TUNI swings, the lobby of the Elektricity Building often hosts stands during some events.
Kampusareena
Completed in 2015, Kampusareena is located in the center of the Hervanta campus. Kampusareena is considered a meeting place for the university staff, students and businesses, with about 40% of its space occupied by companies. It's worth mentioning that 560 solar panels are installed on the roof of Kampusareena, and part of the ventilation system operates on solar energy.
On the lowest floor of Kampusareena, you'll find the Hervanta campus library, which includes reservable group workspaces, 3D printers, and a Virtual Reality Room where you can use bookable HTC Vive VR glasses. If you get hungry in the middle of a study day, you can head to the library's student kitchen to heat up your food.
The library's study areas are divided according to the noise level that is appropriate in each space. For example, in the quietest reading room, Litium, the use of laptops and phones is prohibited.
On the first floor of Kampusareena, you'll find the info desk of Kampusareena. TEK lounge will also be opening there soon, allowing all TEK members to relax and have coffee at the lounge. On the second floor of Kampusareena, there is the Kampusareena auditorium and Restaurant Reaktori, which offers a direct view to Etunurtsi. The upper floors of Kampusareena house company offices.
The Hervanta campus library is located on the ground floor of the Kampusareena building.
Restaurant Reaktori and Atomi Cafe are located on the second floor of the Kampusareena building.
Next to Reaktori, you'll find the Kampusareena auditorium.
The TEK Lounge opens soon onto the ground floor of the Kampusareena building.
Rakennustalo
The Rakennustalo building houses facilities for the School of Architecture. In the lower lobby of Rakennustalo, you can visit the Teekkarimuseo, which showcases teekkari (university students of technology) culture through artifacts collected over the years.
Rakennustalo also provides access via an elevator or stairs to the underground civil defense shelter, commonly known as Bommari. Bommari features various sports facilities, such as floorball courts, tatami mats, a climbing wall, a mini skate ramp, a punching wall, and a ski waxing station. Additionally, Bommari is a common place to organise events for students.
Another entrance, known as Bommari driveway ('Bommarin liuska'), is located behind the Main Building, right next to the beach volleyball court. Student events are often accessed through this entrance, but it's advisable to check the event description for details how to arrive Bommari.
You can access Bommari from the upper lobby of the Rakennustalo building via the elevator or stairs behind the door shown in the picture.
Various sport facilities are found in Bommari.
The other entrance to Bommari is located at the back of the campus, opposite the beach volleyball courts.
In the Rakennustalo building, you’ll find the Teekkarimuseum, which aims to preserve and showcase the cornerstones of Tampere's student culture.
Main building
The main building of the Hervanta campus ('Päärakennus') is located behind Kampusareena and can be accessed either through indoor corridors of Rakennustalo or Kampusareena, or from the outside through the main entrance of the building. On the first floor of the main building, you’ll find the info desk, and directly opposite the main doors, behind the glass doors, is the Language Center. The Language Center includes classrooms that are available for general use outside of reservations. At the back of the Language Center is a kitchen ('Tupakeittiö'), where you can prepare food or reserve the space for student events.
On the second floor of the main building, you’ll find the TREY service desk. Instructions for reaching the service desk from the main entrance can be found in this video. Also on the second floor, near the Language Center, are various study spaces, including chat boxes, glass cubicles, that cannot be reserved separately.
The main entrance of the Main building is located behind the Kampusareena.
At the back of the Language Centre, you'll find a campus kitchen, Tupakeittiö.
The TREY service desk is located on the second floor of the Main Building.
There are some calm study places on the second floor of language center at the Main Building.
Festia
From the main building, we continue to Festia, where we can admire the historical murals depicting the history of Tampere's teekkaris and Tampere University of Technology. Adjacent to Festia's main lobby is the Iso Sali, which hosts many larger events.
Festia is also home to the shared office of Luuppi, Energiamurros, and the Robotics Guild, located in room FA108.
Festia's Iso Sali during TREY's Organization Kick-off.
You can reach Luuppi's soon-to-open Hervanta office by walking up one floor from the Festia lobby. Alternatively, you can use an elevator located behind the stairs.
Luuppi's Hervanta office is located opposite the walking bridge leading to the balcony of Festia's Iso Sali.
Konetalo
Built in 1974, Konetalo is the oldest building on the campus, and it is said to have literally been completed in the middle of a berry field, as the Hervanta suburban area was just beginning to develop at the time. In Konetalo, you can find Restaurant Newton and Café Konehuone, where you can get wings at a student price on Fridays.
On the first floor, between rooms K1702 and K1703, there is a door to the Guild Corridor, which houses several guild rooms, including the guild room of Man@ger - the Guild of Information and Knowledge Management. The basement of Konetalo also has a rentable sauna space.
In the Konetalo building, you will also find the FSHS Oral Health Services and a self-service point. Other FSHS services are located at the Tulli, in the same building as the S-market Pendoliino.
In front of Konetalo, you can also find the memorial of the Eternal Teekkari. Eternal teekkari or 'Ikiteekkari' is a student who 'has deemed it necessary to qualify so thoroughly as a practitioner of science that they have not had the time or remembered to graduate as a Master of Science in Engineering.' Ikiteekkari is also an honorary title that can be awarded to a former member of the student union. In addition to Hervanta, a similar monument can also be found in Lappeenranta and Turku.
Café Konehuone is located in the Konetalo building.
Restaurant Newton is located on the lower floor of the Konetalo building.
You can find the memorial of eternal teekkari in front of Konetalo building.
Facts About the Buildings on the Hervanta Campus
- Kampusareena: Completed in 2015.
- Tietotalo: Completed in 2001.
- Sähkötalo: Completed in 1978, expanded in 2002. Connected internally to Tietotalo, Rakennustalo, and Kampusareena.
- Rakennustalo: Completed in 1984, learning environments renovated in 2013.
- Main Building: Completed in 1983, expanded in 2006, renovated in 2017.
- Festia: Completed in 1995. Building will be relinquished during 2025, except the assembly hall and pathways between the other buildings.
- Tamppi Areena: Completed in 2002, expanded in 2013.
- Konetalo: Completed in 1973, the oldest building on the campus.
How to find a lecture hall or other space on the Hervanta campus?
Room Numbering System
Spaces on the Hervanta campus are numbered based on buildings, their sections, and floors. The first letter of the room number indicates the building as follows: T = Tietotalo, S = Sähkötalo, R = Rakennustalo, P = Päärakennus, F = Festia, K = Konetalo, and A = Kampusareena.
The second letter in the room number refers to a section or wing of the building, and the first number indicates the floor. For example, lecture hall TB109 is located on the 1st floor of section B in Tietotalo.
Access Rights on the Hervanta Campus
One advantage of the Hervanta campus is the 24/7 access to public areas with a student card. Each student must request access rights at the campus information desk. The easiest way to do this is at the information desk on the first floor of Kampusareena. You will also receive a four-digit code needed when the building doors are locked. First, present your student card to the reader on or near the door, then enter the code.
For more information on the opening hours of buildings and information desks, click here.
How to Book an Exam or Study Space on the Hervanta Campus?
Group study rooms available for booking can be found in Tietotalo and the library in Kampusareena. Bookings can be made through Resource Booker.
Study spaces are available throughout the campus. In particular, the library and the language centre facilities in the Päärakennus are popular among many students.
Electronic exam rooms are located in Päärakennus (PC230), Tietotalo (TA203), Sähkötalo (SC103), Konetalo (K2113), and Kampusareena (A218, accessible exam room).