Kookos

Theatre Academy's historic main building on the Sörnäinen Campus offers versatile facilities for theatre and dance instruction and student performances.

Teatterikorkeakoulun päärakennus Kookos

The Kookos Building on Haapaniemenkatu houses facilities for theatre and dance instruction and rehearsals. There are also four studios that serve as the performance venues of Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy students. The Theatre Academy is one of the most active event organisers in Helsinki in the fields of theatre and dance. 

The building also houses a university library that is open to everyone and specialises in the arts, especially in theatre and dance pedagogy as well as research in these fields. The Fazer Food & Co Restaurant for students and staff offers affordable breakfasts, lunches and snacks. 

A passageway connects the Kookos Building and the new Academy of Fine Arts facilities. 

Theatre Academy ticket office

In the Kookos building, you can find the Theatre Academy ticket office, which opens 1 hour before the first performance.

Ticket office contact details:

teak.lipunmyynti@uniarts.fi
+358 400 792 005 (phonelines open 1 hour before the first performance)

Facilities and activities

History

The Kookos building, located at the corner of Haapaniemenkatu and Sörnäisten rantatie, was completed in 1912 for the use of Kokos Ltd, which manufactured soap and margarine from coconut butter. The factory building was designed by Architect Albert Nyberg. Kone Ltd became the owner of the building in 1926, when it was remodelled as the company’s main office and elevator factory.  

Since then, the premises have housed, e.g., small industry, repair shops, warehouses, factory shops, offices, and a gym. The building was vacant from the early 1990s. The Helsinki Society and the Finnish Architecture Society strongly pushed for the protection of the building instead of demolition.  

In 1990, the Oranssi movement took over the building and this too was significant for its survival. Merita Kiinteistöt Oy became the owner of the property after Haka‘s bankruptcy in the spring of 1996. When the Theatre Academy moved to the building in 2000, the facilities were renovated to meet the needs of theatre and dance students.

Address

Haapaniemenkatu 6, 00530 Helsinki, Finland

Opening hours

Mon-Fri 8-22

Saturday 10-18

Sunday 10-17

Gates close 1 hour before the building closes. Tags stop working half an hour before the building closes.

Contact information


Contact details for the building attendants: teakvahtimestarit@uniartsfi.onmicrosoft.com or
+358 294 47 4407
 

For general questions about Theatre Academy, email: teak.info@uniarts.fi

Accessibility

The building is accessible and the floors can be reached by lift. There is an accessible toilet on the same floor as the main lobby. It is best to check whether a wheelchair-accessible seat is available before each performance.

Location on map