Building opening hours for the public are now permanent, restricted nighttime use continues until Feb 2027
Uniarts Helsinki introduced new building opening hours as a fixed-term pilot on 1 August 2025. It was decided that the university will continue restricting the nighttime use of facilities on a trial basis until the end of 2027 to gain a better understanding of its effects and the related savings. It was also decided that the current public opening hours will become permanent.
More information is needed on the savings generated by nighttime use to support decision-making
The primary reason for restricting nighttime access to Uniarts Helsinki buildings was financial. Uniarts Helsinki has an annual savings target of 2.5 million euros by the end of 2028. In the change negotiations, the university had an obligation to seek alternative savings to mitigate impacts on staff. Read more about the grounds for restricting nighttime access in the news article published in spring 2025.
According to preliminary estimates, the changes have generated savings during the trial period, for example in energy consumption, security and facility services. The annual savings are estimated at around 62,000 euros, but the calculations are still partly indicative. The university management considered it important to continue the trial period in order to assess the savings more reliably in relation to their impacts.
The university has collected feedback from both students and staff during the trial period. The feedback is divided: student surveys have pointed out dissatisfaction with the restricted opening hours, whereas staff surveys indicate that the impacts on operations have been mostly minor or in some cases positive.
It was decided that the trial period will continue until 28 February 2027, and during this period, practices and communication will be updated as needed. The aim is to carry out an overall assessment and make a final decision by spring 2027 at the latest.
Authorised nighttime use
Practice time for playing the main organ at the Helsinki Music Centre
If you are a student at the Sibelius Academy and have been granted practice time for the main organ at the Helsinki Music Centre, you may use the Concert Hall between 5:00 and 6:00. The use of other facilities during nighttime hours is not permitted.
Students participating in Kuvan Kevät
If you are participating in the Kuvan Kevät Master’s Degree Show, you are allowed to work at night during the two weeks before the exhibition installation begins. Information about weeks when nighttime use is permitted will be communicated to students in autumn 2026.
Nighttime work is only permitted in your personal workspace. Workshops, studios and exhibition facilities are not available for use at night.
Music technology students and staff
The university is looking into the possibility of allowing music technology students and staff to use the studios at the Helsinki Music Centre at night when they have necessary grounds for the use. Information will be provided at the beginning of the autumn term at the latest.
Piano tuners and organ teachers
Piano tuners have automatic permission to work in the buildings between 5:00 and 6:00.
Organ teachers who are authorised to play the main organ at the Helsinki Music Centre may use the Concert Hall between 5:00 and 6:00. The use of other facilities during nighttime hours is not permitted.
Services for artistic activities
Staff members working for services for artistic activities are authorised to use their access control tags in the Helsinki Music Centre side of the building during nighttime hours. The Sibelius Academy side of the property is closed. Using the facilities is permitted only for production-related transport and set-up needs.
Additional clarifications on night use
For now, no other authorisations will be granted for nighttime use beyond the permitted exceptions.
The executive group of the Academy of Fine Arts has decided that BFA exhibition will not warrant authorised nighttime use.
Public opening hours to become permanent
Based on the trial period, the public opening hours of Uniarts Helsinki buildings have been confirmed as permanent. Public opening hours refer to the hours when the entrances to the buildings are open to visitors from outside the university and when staff are present at info desks.
Regardless of public opening hours, staff and students can use the facilities with an access control tag on all days of the week between 6:00 and 24:00. Tags stop working at 23:30, but it is possible to exit the premises until 24:00.
Kookos
- Mon–Fri: 8:30–20:00
- Sat: Services 10:00–18:00 or on an as-needed basis
- Sun: No services
- Evening and weekend use: Outside of the service hours, the building can be entered using an access control tag
- Nighttime use: The building is closed between 00:00 and 6:00
Mylly
- Mon–Fri: 8:30–16:00
- Sat: No services
- Sun: No services
- Evening and weekend use: Outside of the service hours, the building can be entered using an access control tag
- Nighttime use: The building is closed between 00:00 and 6:00
Helsinki Music Centre
- Mon–Fri: 9:00–16:00
- Sat: No services
- Sun: No services
- Evening and weekend use: Outside of the service hours, the building can be entered using an access control tag
- Nighttime use: The building is closed between 00:00 and 6:00
N Building
- Mon–Fri: 9:00–16:00
- Sat: No services
- Sun: No services
- Evening and weekend use: Outside of the service hours, the building can be entered using an access control tag
- Nighttime use: The building is closed between 00:00 and 6:00
R Building
- Mon–Fri: 8:30–20:00
- Sat: Services 10:00–18:00 or on an as-needed basis
- Sun: No services
- Evening and weekend use: Outside of the service hours, the building can be entered using an access control tag
- Nighttime use: The building is closed between 00:00 and 6:00
Things to consider concerning opening times
- In Mylly, there is an on-call attendant present during exhibitions from Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 18:00.
- Campus buildings may have unusual opening hours due to performance and exhibition activities. If needed, opening hours may be extended until 22:00.
- The opening hours may differ from the usual on an as-needed basis over the weekends when the university organises concerts, performances and exhibitions in the buildings.
- During the summer from Midsummer until the end of July, the buildings and info desks are closed, but there will be an on-call attendant on campuses. Students and staff can enter the facilities using their access tags.
Give feedback
You are welcome to send feedback on opening hours and your views on the effects of the change on musical instruments, for example, using the general feedback form on the Students’ Uniarts website.
The feedback is forwarded to the right persons within the facilities team, and they will contact the person who gave the feedback.