Crowded on KTH campus this autumn

"It will work, even though it will be crowded. It affects everyone, so it is important to respect each other's everyday lives and work environment,’ says Katarina Jonsson Berglund.

She is Head of the Education Office, which includes five schedulers . Together, they have made around 28,000 bookings, scheduling around 72,000 hours in 161 rooms (29 lecture theatres, 90 practice rooms, and 42 computer rooms) across the Valhallavägen, Albanova, and Flemingsberg campuses, based on around 14,000 full-time students and 880 booked teachers.

Good dialogue

"We have had a very good dialogue with UA and GA at the schools to resolve the situation. Those directly involved in the move have been better prepared. Others were more caught off guard when their courses and timetables were affected, Jonsson Berglund says.

Large lecture theatres, examination rooms and computer rooms will be in short supply. The opening hours will be 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday, and there may be exams on Saturdays.

'Yes, we need to make sure we maximise the use of space so that it works well for everyone. It's important to look at the big picture,” says Jonsson Berglund.

In addition to students and teachers, a number of other departments such as IT and cleaning services will also be affected.

However, this situation will improve as the premises are remodelled. There will be more computer rooms by 2026, and KTH will regain the L-building in the summer of 2027, which has been rented to the Swedish Defence University since 1 January 2024.

"I want to give a huge credit to the schedulers. I understand that it may be perceived as messy by some, but it is temporary, and the idea is to strengthen KTH for the future," Lindström says.

In November 2023, the KTH Board of Directors made decisions regarding operations at KTH's various campuses. The aim was to improve quality and financial performance. KTH Södertälje will move to KTH Campus and Campus Flemingsberg. Operations in Kista will move to KTH Campus, except for the Electrum laboratory. This transition is expected to be completed by 2027; however, the Södertälje and Kista campuses are already closing, with operations moving to KTH Campus on Valhallavägen. Based on the expiry of existing leases, KTH is expected to save SEK 60 million per year in premises costs in 2024 prices through these changes.

KTH will vacate 8,376 square metres in Södertälje by summer 2024, although some leases run until 2027. In Kista, 2,490 square metres will be vacated by 2025, with a further 8,520 square metres to be vacated by 2029. A great deal of work is also being done to find subtenants to take over the premises in the meantime. At the KTH Campus, workplace density is being increased through VS premises optimisation, and 3,950 sqm will remain in 2027.

Text: Jill Klackenberg
Photo: Magnus Glans