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Featured image18.8.2021
A new era of music education dawns in Helsinki’s Arabia district – opening of the Soiva building
The music education programmes of the Pop & Jazz Conservatory and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences are moving to a new, shared building in Helsinki’s Arabianranta district on 15 March 2021.
The new building, called Soiva, which roughly translates into “Resound” in English, creates new and contemporary conditions for music education. The building was designed right from the start to respond to the needs of music education – and to lead the way to the future of education.
Soiva combines a UAS degree programme in music, vocational studies, music as a hobby, singing and instrument playing in a music playschool for children with studio work and producing. Interior design that emphasises a sense of community enables new interactions between educational institutions and among students and teachers.
Soiva was designed and equipped to respond to the demands of today’s contact teaching and online teaching. The building’s learning and performance spaces enable innovative pedagogy, with each space designed with music learning in mind. The sound studios and online studio are also exceptional in Finland.
“Our long-cultivated dream has been realised and we can now make use of Finland’s best music education facilities, which also support our strong focus on online teaching – and even in the same block where we previously operated,” says Janne Murto, principal of the Pop & Jazz Conservatory.
“Soiva brings together Metropolia’s students of classical and rhythmic music and diverse musician and music pedagogical training under one roof for the first time. The campus additionally brings together UAS education in the entire broad range of cultural fields, which opens up opportunities for diverse collaboration,” says Paula Turkkila, Head of the School of Cultural Services and Music at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
The new building is located on the historic Arabia factory block. It links seamlessly with Metropolia’s Culture Campus of creative minds and is part of pension insurance company Varma’s Arabia135 real estate development project, which is helping to transform the area into a vibrant urban arena.
“As the owner of the Arabia135 block, we are thrilled that music students can make use of modern spaces that meet their needs, and that the Soiva building, with its music students, hobbyists, producers and audiences, is bringing life to the block,” says Commercial Property Director Toni Pekonen of Varma.
The premises were designed by Tommila Architects Ltd under the direction of Miia-Liina Tommila, and the acoustic solutions were designed by Akukon Oy. SRV Rakennus Oy is the contractor on the project.
MEDIA BANK
Soiva building’s media bank
CONTACT DETAILS
Pop & Jazz Conservatory
Principal Janne Murto
Communications
Mette Doukata-Erikkilä
040 568 1927
mette.doukata-erikkila@popjazz.fi
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
Head of the School of Cultural Services and Music Paula Turkkila
040 726 6511
Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company / Arabia135 block
Commercial Property Director Toni Pekonen
040 523 6610
toni.pekonen@varma.fi
Tommila Architects Ltd
CEO Miia-Liina Tommila, Architect SAFA
050 323 7534