Future Construction Hub as a driver of industry collaboration and Myllypuro’s regional development

Over the past two years, Myllypuro has emerged as an increasingly prominent center for learning in construction, multidisciplinary collaboration, and co-development with companies. Led by Metropolia, the Future Construction Hub project (TITAN) has strengthened cooperation in education, research, and development within the construction sector, while also accelerating the area development of Myllypuro.

Key achievements include closer collaboration between Metropolia, Stadin AO, and Aalto University, the creation of new learning environments, and the consolidation of Myllypuro’s position as a future hub for the construction industry. The results and models have been compiled in the final publication Building the Future Construction Hub – An Ecosystem for Learning and Collaboration (2025, in Finnish).

At the project’s closing event in September 2025, participants reflected on the future of cities and the transformations of the built environment under the guidance of urban analyst Tuija Pakkanen.

New forms of learning and events to familiarize students with RDI activities

During the TITAN project, a cross-study agreement was signed between Metropolia and Aalto University, enabling students to complete selected courses in surveying and geoinformatics at both institutions. The agreement arose from an identified need to promote student mobility between universities and to broaden course offerings in a cost-effective way.

Students from Metropolia and Stadin AO carried out joint projects such as the design, casting, and testing of concrete beams, combining the strengths of different levels of education. Stadin AO students took responsibility for casting, while Metropolia students focused on durability testing and project management.

“This was a fruitful way to combine expertise from different levels of education,” says project manager Lars Miikki from Metropolia.

During the project, a new Showroom space was also opened on the Myllypuro campus to showcase the built environment sector. The Showroom later evolved into the Myllypuro Pop-up Showroom, where students and other campus users could weekly try out virtual reality applications and games. Virtual environments were co-developed with students to support teaching.

The project also brought together stakeholders at the New Dimensions in Construction event and raised awareness of Myllypuro among companies and professionals. Organized twice, the event attracted hundreds of participants each year to explore themes related to the built environment. The events also introduced students to research and development activities.

“When students get involved in research and development, they learn to apply knowledge in practice, gain valuable professional contacts, and see how their skills can help solve major societal challenges,” Miikki says.

With the conclusion of the TITAN project, collaboration does not come to an end – the developed operating models and learning environments will continue to be utilized on the Myllypuro campus and within the partner network. They provide a platform for new experiments and development projects, and their scalability enables application across other campuses and fields as well.

The connections established with international partners during the project, such as cooperation with Ukraine, also lay the groundwork for offering expertise and solutions on a broader international scale.

Myllypuro — a growing hub of learning and vitality

Myllypuro has developed into a hub for learning and urban development, as the new campuses of Metropolia, Stadin AO, and Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages have strengthened the area’s student community. The development is being monitored between 2017 and 2027 in a joint project by the City of Helsinki, the City Academy, and Metropolia, which provides data on the district’s long-term transformation.

“The construction and real estate sector is currently being reshaped by many forces of change. Future professionals are expected to show open-mindedness, new forms of collaboration, and innovativeness. The TITAN project has demonstrated that Metropolia’s students in the field possess all of these,” says Specialist Jussi Kulonpalo from the City of Helsinki.

More information

Lars Miikki
Project Manager, Future Construction Hub TITAN, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
lars.miikki [at] metropolia.fi (lars[dot]miikki[at]metropolia[dot]fi)