The first phase of the international architecture competition organised jointly by PSOAS and the University of Oulu ended on 2 October 2026. More than 100 entries were submitted.
The number of entries show that the planning of Oulu’s new university campus has attracted wide interest. For PSOAS, student housing is an essential part of a functional and vibrant campus, and the competition brings fresh ideas on what student housing in Oulu could look like in the future.
The competition seeks a high-quality architectural concept that brings university functions and student housing together as a natural part of Oulu’s urban structure. The new campus will be built in Kontinkangas, where the University of Oulu is relocating from Linnanmaa. Approximately 30,000 square metres are planned for student housing, providing around 600–1,000 housing places.
From the many to a select few
The jury will select the 3–5 most promising first-phase entries, whose authors will develop their plans further in the second phase based on the jury’s feedback. The second phase begins in January 2027, and the winner will be announced in June 2027. The competition is anonymous, so the authors of the entries will only be revealed when the winner is announced.
The competition jury includes representatives from PSOAS, the University of Oulu, the Student Union of the University of Oulu, the City of Oulu, Pohde and SAFA. The competition is organised in collaboration with the City of Oulu, the North Ostrobothnia Wellbeing Services County Pohde and the Finnish Association of Architects SAFA.
Read the University of Oulu’s article on the first phase.
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Over 100 entries submitted to the architecture competition for the new University of Oulu campus
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