Turku Student Village Foundation

The Turku Student Village Foundation (Finnish: Turun Ylioppilaskyläsäätiö, TYS; Swedish: Studentbystiftelsen i Åbo) is a Finnish foundation based in the city of Turku whose mission is to build, renovate and maintain student and youth housing for young people studying at post-secondary educational institutions or already in working life. Most of its housing stock is located in the Turku Student Village (Turun ylioppilaskylä), a purpose-built district that has become closely identified with the foundation itself. The foundation was established on 1 December 1966 by the Student Union of the University of Turku, at a time when the city's student population was growing rapidly and the student union's own building activities needed to be separated into a dedicated legal entity. It received its initial capital in the form of the Turku Student House, other property and 10,000 marks. The Student Union of Åbo Akademi, the student union of the Turku School of Economics and the student union of the Turku Teacher Training College joined on 2 December 1967, and the remaining student unions followed in 1970. The foundation's first construction project, the Turku Student Village, had already been prepared before the foundation was formally created: its foundation stone was laid on 3 December 1968 and the first residents moved in on 31 August 1969. TYS operates as a non-profit housing provider. Its rental activities are aimed at students and young people, and surpluses from its ancillary business operations have historically been used to finance housing operations and keep rents low. In 2015 the foundation had 4,718 housing places at its disposal. Slightly more than half of its tenants studied at the University of Turku, while roughly one sixth studied at Åbo Akademi and Turku University of Applied Sciences. The average rent for its apartments in 2015 was €12.08 per square metre per month, and its balance sheet stood at approximately €158.8 million. Over the decades TYS has expanded beyond the original Student Village into districts such as Kråkkärret, Ispois, Peltola, Harittu, Ilpois, Räntämäki and Hallis, and has completed a series of named projects including Henrikki, Auranhelmi, Tavasti, Nummenranta, the 12-storey Ikituuri tower (2011), the solar-powered Aitiopaikka (completed around the turn of 2019) and Tyyssija (completed around the turn of 2022), which also houses a K-Market grocery store, a student restaurant, a gym and the foundation's own offices. In 2026 the foundation marks its 60th anniversary, promoting the slogan of student housing and student everyday life since 1966.

The Turku Student Village Foundation was founded on 1 December 1966 by the Student Union of the University of Turku. Before that, the student union's building activities had been part of its general operations, but with the student population growing rapidly it was decided to separate construction into a foundation of its own. The foundation received its initial capital in the form of the Turku Student House, other property and 10,000 marks. The Student Union of Åbo Akademi, the student union of the Turku School of Economics and the student union of the Turku Teacher Training College joined the foundation on 2 December 1967, and the remaining student unions joined in 1970. The foundation's first construction project, the Turku Student Village, had already been prepared before the foundation was established. Its foundation stone was laid on 3 December 1968, and the first residents moved in on 31 August 1969. Construction of student housing was financed through state ARAVA loans and bank loans, and a self-financing share of five per cent was also required. This share was raised through paper collections and donations from municipalities and companies. In the early 1970s the restaurant and nightclub Ikituuri was founded, and summer-season activities were expanded to strengthen the foundation's equity. In 1974 construction of the Congress Center Turku began, while the eastern part of the Student Village was also being built. The oil crisis increased construction costs by a quarter and reduced tourist flows. In 1980 the foundation's rules were changed so that the majority of board and council members were appointed by the City of Turku. In the same year the Turku Student Village was finally completed. The Congress Center Turku received a new owner, but it was not until the 1990s that the congress centre found a successful concept and was renovated into the Caribia spa hotel. Profits from business operations were intended to finance housing operations and keep rents low. In the mid-1970s rents were barely raised at all. But when general costs rose and the congress centre did not make a profit, it became necessary to raise rents rapidly in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Thousands of students took part in a boycott and refused to pay the rent increases. The students only managed to delay the increases, and the boycott ended in 1982. In the early 1980s TYS began building new housing also outside the Student Village, because its area was already full. New housing was built in Kråkkärret, Ispois and Peltola. At the same time the student houses were renovated and double rooms were removed. Because of a shortage of plots, however, construction did not proceed as quickly as the foundation had hoped. In the late 1980s and early 1990s new housing was completed in Harittu, Ilpois, Räntämäki and Hallis. The Henrikki housing project, between the University of Turku and Turku Cathedral, was also acquired. During the following decade and the early 2000s further projects were completed: Auranhelmi in District VIII, Tavasti along Tavastlandsvägen and Nummenranta by the new Helsinki road and the Aura river. In 2011 a 43-metre-high, 12-storey residential tower called Ikituuri was completed on Helsinki road. The tower has, among other features, copper facades and a geothermal heating system. Around the turn of 2019 the Aitiopaikka housing project was completed near Ikituuri, known in particular for its 516 rooftop solar panels that produce more energy than the building consumes annually. Around the turn of 2022 the foundation's most recent project, Tyyssija, was completed in the Student Village, where there is also a K-Market, a student restaurant, a gym and offices for the Turku Student Village Foundation. In 2015 the foundation had 4,718 housing places at its disposal. Slightly more than half of its tenants studied at the University of Turku, while about one sixth studied at Åbo Akademi and Turku University of Applied Sciences. The average rent for its apartments in 2015 was €12.08 per square metre per month, and the foundation's balance sheet amounted to approximately €158.8 million. In 2026 the foundation celebrates its 60th anniversary, marking six decades of student housing and student everyday life since 1966.

• Turku Student Village Foundation founded by the Student Union of the University of Turku.

• Student unions of Åbo Akademi, Turku School of Economics and Turku Teacher Training College join the foundation.

• Foundation stone of the Turku Student Village laid.

• First residents move into the Turku Student Village.

• Remaining student unions join the foundation.

• Construction of the Congress Center Turku begins; eastern part of the Student Village under construction.

• Foundation rules changed so that the majority of board and council members are appointed by the City of Turku; Turku Student Village completed.

• Student rent boycott ends after delaying rent increases.

• 43-metre-high, 12-storey Ikituuri residential tower completed.

• Aitiopaikka housing project completed near Ikituuri, featuring 516 rooftop solar panels.

• Tyyssija project completed in the Student Village, including a K-Market, student restaurant, gym and foundation offices.

• TYS celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Non-profit foundation providing affordable student and youth housing in Turku, with rents kept low through ancillary business income.

• Turku Student Village (Turun ylioppilaskylä)

  The foundation's first and largest housing area, with the foundation stone laid in 1968 and first residents in 1969.

• Ikituuri

  A 43-metre-high, 12-storey residential tower completed in 2011 with copper facades and geothermal heating.

• Aitiopaikka

  Housing project completed around the turn of 2019, known for 516 rooftop solar panels producing more energy than the building consumes annually.

• Tyyssija

  The foundation's most recent project completed around the turn of 2022, including a K-Market, student restaurant, gym and foundation offices.

1. 1Opiskelija-asunnot | TYS | Turun Ylioppilaskyläsäätiötys.fi
2. 2Turku Student Village Foundation – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Studentbystiftelsen i Åbo – Wikipedia (Swedish)sv.wikipedia.org