Fall Travel Program Week 1

During week one of the 2025 Fall Travel Program, 22 Students along with Associate Professor Shelley Martin and Collegiate Assistant Professor Clive Vorster visited Helsinki, Finland to study multiple works of architecture from various architects.

In Helsinki, students studied work from Alvar Aalto, JKMM, Aarne Ervi, ALA Architects, JKMM, Steven Holl, and more. Students used sketching and photographs to dive into each project, discussing their thoughts with other classmates and faculty. On their final day in Helsinki, students met with Associate Professor Edward Becker, who is currently in Finland on a Fulbright Fellowship. He gave the group a guided tour of the Aalto University Economics Building, designed by Alvar Aalto. Also on the final day, the group experienced a staple in Finnish culture by using a public sauna. The use of the sauna began around 2,000 years ago, where the Finnish would practically live in their saunas to keep warm during their frigid winters. The group of students relaxed at the Löyly Sauna, using the heated rooms to warm up and the cold Baltic Sea to refresh themselves. 

Photo 1: Aalto Studio

Photos 2-3: Alvar Aalto House Photo 4: Aalto University Dipoli

Photo 5: Aalto University Theater Photo 6: Aalto University Library

Photo 7: Aarne Ervi - University of Helsinki Porthania Photo 8: ALA Architects - Helsinki Central Library Oodi Photo 9: JKMM - University of Helsinki Think Corner Photo 10: Avanto Architects - Loyly Sauna

Photos by: @nickerdmanphoto