In August 2026, TalTech Student Campus will open a newly renovated student residence and hostel, featuring a distinctive energy solution: solar panels integrated into the buildings’ end façades. Together with rooftop panels, the buildings will generate approximately 120 kW of electricity, enough to cover their round-the-clock energy needs when weather conditions are favourable.
The project also includes plans for up to ten electric vehicle charging points. For now, intensive construction work is underway at the corner of Akadeemia and Raja Street in Tallinn.
According to Jaak Kääp, Chairman of the Board of TalTech Student Campus, the buildings were originally completed in 2003 and their quality was fairly modest.
“Time moves on, and TalTech students have become increasingly demanding. At the same time, awareness of energy efficiency has grown significantly,” Kääp said. “By autumn 2026, the renovated student residence and hostel will have transformed from some of the most unassuming buildings on campus into the very best living environment we offer. Scandinavian-style interiors, an attractive outdoor area, a rooftop terrace, and much more will make these buildings feel like home for students arriving from anywhere in the world.”
He adds with a smile that the location will also be easy to find. “In the past, you had to take trolleybus number 3 (now bus 83), get off, and walk about a hundred metres. Unlike one exchange student who once took tram number 3, walked a little from the terminal, and ended up at Kadriorg Palace instead.”
A Campus Landmark and a More Open Urban Space
The aim of the reconstruction goes beyond technical upgrades and improved living conditions. A key goal is to strengthen the urban coherence of the TalTech campus. The building complex will become a visible architectural landmark when viewed from both Raja and Akadeemia Street, aligning with the architectural direction of TalTech’s recent developments along the same axis.
Researchers from TalTech’s Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture are involved in the project, contributing their expertise through a European Union-funded initiative to help establish the approximately 120 kW solar power system.
The surrounding outdoor space will also be transformed. The number of parking spaces will be reduced, green areas expanded, and new spaces created for leisure and recreation—open to both students and local residents. Existing fences around the buildings will be removed to restore Mustamäe’s original concept of an open urban environment, where movement is not restricted by barriers or enclosed areas.
Competing with Modern Rental Housing
One of the most significant impacts of the investment is that TalTech will be able to offer a living environment that competes with modern rental developments built near the university in recent years. Attractive, high-quality accommodation is an increasingly important factor for both international and Estonian students when choosing a university.