Comparative Assessment of Finnish University Campus Transformation Using New European Bauhaus–Inspired Sustainability Indicators
University campuses are key testbeds for circular and climate-resilient transformation. This study evaluates how redevelopment strategies at eight Finnish campuses align with long-term environmental and social goals using indicators derived from the New European Bauhaus (NEB) framework. A mapping and qualitative synthesis of 97 peer-reviewed publications (2015–2024) was combined with a comparative analysis of sustainability strategies, carbon-neutrality roadmaps, and campus development strategies (2010–2024). Indicators were formulated based on campus-specific challenges and NEB core values—sustainability, inclusion, and esthetics—and operationalized across five areas: blue-green infrastructure, low-emission mobility, student housing, carbon reduction and renewables, and cultural heritage/community integration. Results show strong commitments to energy efficiency, mobility, and biodiversity. However, socio-spatial dimensions—student housing, participatory inclusion, and place identity—are weak or externalized. Reporting practices are uneven, and metrics are not standardized, limiting comparability across institutions. We argue that SDG-based monitoring should be complemented by NEB’s place-sensitive criteria to bridge strategy–implementation gaps and to future-proof campus redevelopment. An illustrative conceptual case for Helsinki’s Viikki campus demonstrates how the indicators can be integrated into design scenarios. Policy recommendations highlight how integrating NEB’s place-sensitive criteria with ESG/SDG frameworks can strengthen the strategic and spatial coherence of campus transformations.
Authors
- Elżbieta Komarzyńska-Świeściak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2688-4073)
- Magdalena Strauchmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2604-5103)
- Aleksandra Urszula Tądel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1191-9346)
Institutions
- Wrocław University of Science and Technology (PL)
- AGH University of Krakow (PL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Sustainability
- Published
- 2025-11-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210425
- Primary Topic
- Sustainability in Higher Education
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00