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Article

Comparative Assessment of Finnish University Campus Transformation Using New European Bauhaus–Inspired Sustainability Indicators

by
Elżbieta Komarzyńska-Świeściak
*,
Magdalena Anna Strauchmann
and
Aleksandra Urszula Tądel
Faculty of Architecture, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10425; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210425 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 9 September 2025 / Revised: 8 November 2025 / Accepted: 12 November 2025 / Published: 20 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Cities and Campuses)

Abstract

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.
Keywords: campus redevelopment; circular campus design; climate resilience; New European Bauhaus (NEB); sustainability strategies; socio-spatial integration; campus housing; place-based transformation; design for sustainability campus redevelopment; circular campus design; climate resilience; New European Bauhaus (NEB); sustainability strategies; socio-spatial integration; campus housing; place-based transformation; design for sustainability
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MDPI and ACS Style

Komarzyńska-Świeściak, E.; Strauchmann, M.A.; Tądel, A.U. Comparative Assessment of Finnish University Campus Transformation Using New European Bauhaus–Inspired Sustainability Indicators. Sustainability 2025, 17, 10425. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210425

AMA Style

Komarzyńska-Świeściak E, Strauchmann MA, Tądel AU. Comparative Assessment of Finnish University Campus Transformation Using New European Bauhaus–Inspired Sustainability Indicators. Sustainability. 2025; 17(22):10425. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210425

Chicago/Turabian Style

Komarzyńska-Świeściak, Elżbieta, Magdalena Anna Strauchmann, and Aleksandra Urszula Tądel. 2025. "Comparative Assessment of Finnish University Campus Transformation Using New European Bauhaus–Inspired Sustainability Indicators" Sustainability 17, no. 22: 10425. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210425

APA Style

Komarzyńska-Świeściak, E., Strauchmann, M. A., & Tądel, A. U. (2025). Comparative Assessment of Finnish University Campus Transformation Using New European Bauhaus–Inspired Sustainability Indicators. Sustainability, 17(22), 10425. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210425

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