The decision to leave the Haaga campus premises is practical: as the main tenant’s contract ends in February 2027, also Haaga-Helia’s subtenant agreement ends. At the Haaga campus, Haaga-Helia is a subtenant of Haaga Instituutti foundation. The property was built in 1969.
– We are giving up the Haaga premises due to the advanced age of the building and the expiration of the lease. Leaving the campus will also generate some savings, but they are not the main reason for this change, President Teemu Kokko says.
Hospitality professionals, i.e. experts in the restaurant, hotel and tourism industries are educated at the Haaga campus. Degree Director Risto Karmavuo is a double alumnus of Haaga.
– I feel a bit nostalgic about leaving the Haaga campus, of course. However, the building was designed to serve 1960’s needs and pedagogy. Now we will have a great opportunity to re-design the concept to meet 2030’s and beyond learning environment, Karmavuo concludes.
Haaga operations move to Pasila and to a new showroom space
After leaving the Haaga campus, most of the hospitality management teaching will be carried out on the Pasila campus. In addition, Haaga-Helia is looking for a well-located space for hospitality management education. The goal is to find modern and functional premises where we will build an impressive showroom for developing business-oriented expertise. In addition to Pasila and Haaga, Haaga-Helia has campuses in Malmi, Porvoo and Vierumäki. Hospitality management education is also organised in Porvoo.
The goal is to move to the new premises during autumn 2026 so that operations are fully relocated at the beginning of 2027. Before moving out operations will continue in Haaga as before. As a rule, teaching and personnel's duties will continue as before even after the move – only the space solutions change.
President Teemu Kokko states that there are many memories and a special atmosphere and culture connected to Haaga.
– The traditions and symbols of the hospitality management education will be cherished also in the future. The change is also a possibility for us to raise the profile of the hospitality management education, to increase our connections to the business and to strengthen our working life oriented teaching, Kokko says.
