The history of the disappearing Mattilanniemi campus is unveiled to city residents in an exhibition in Jyväskylä

An exhibition showcasing the University of Jyväskylä’s soon-to-be-decommissioned Mattilanniemi campus “Not just for students, but for all city residents. The University of Jyväskylä’s Disappearing Mattilanniemi Campus 1980–2026” opens at the Jyväskylä University Museum, Soihtu Exhibition Center in Seminaarinmäki on May 13, 2026.

Mattilanniemen kampuksen kasvillisuutta.

Published

7.5.2026

The exhibition sheds light on the development of the Mattilanniemi area from an old pasture and city landfill into a vibrant, green university campus. At the same time, it examines the campus as part of the city — a place designed from the outset for all city residents, not just the academic community.

Arto Sipinen, the architect who designed the Mattilanniemi campus, described the design’s starting points as equality, democracy, and social well-being — as well as consideration for the surrounding nature and urban structure — in an interview with Keskisuomalainen after winning the competition in 1970. His vision was an open campus that, with its waterfront scenery and park pathways, would connect the university and the city. “I didn’t think of white-collar workers, but of all city residents in my design work,” Sipinen told Keskisuomalainen on November 21, 1970.

The exhibition opening now features a wide range of materials showcasing the architecture of Mattilanniemi and its valuable park area: scale models, plans, photographs, and plant collections.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore, among other things, scale models of the campus environment and the area’s botanical highlights, such as Finland’s northernmost walnut trees that bear fruit.

The University of Jyväskylä is vacating the Mattilanniemi campus facilities as part of a broader relocation plan. The university has already vacated the MaB and MaC buildings, and during 2026, it will vacate the MaA, MaD, and Kärki buildings. The exhibition documents this transition as part of our shared cultural heritage.

The exhibition opens in the Seminarium building on May 13, 2026.

A poster exhibition highlights the climate benefits of repair and preservation

Starting May 13, the hallway on the first floor of the same building will also feature a poster exhibition showcasing the “Better Not Demolish” (Purkamatta paras -kampanja) campaign. The campaign criticizes the demolition of buildings and highlights the climate benefits of renovation and preservation. Construction accounts for about one-third of global emissions and up to 40 percent of waste — even small choices make a big difference.

The exhibition will be on display throughout early summer.