Universum through the ages
Here are some historical highlights from the first decades of the Universum building.
Universum has played a central role in student life and for the people of Umeå for a long time. Akademiska Hus (which owns all university buildings in Sweden) is now investing around 200 million Swedish kronor in a major refurbishment of Universum and Campus Umeå. The aim is to create a hub for even smoother collaboration between academia, students, the business community and society.
This is what Universum looked like during the building’s first years.
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Advertisement for the opening of the restaurant at Universum.
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In one part of Universum, you could listen to whatever music you wanted through headphones.
Image:Bertil Ekholtz
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An interior view of Universum from the building’s earlier years.
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At the ‘Snabben’ restaurant in Universum, lunch was served on moulded trays until 1990.
Image:Åke Sörlin
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An interior view of Universum from the building’s earlier years.
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Frequently asked questions about the refurbishment
During the refurbishment work, the services currently based at Universum will be relocated to other premises on campus. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Why is Universum being refurbished?
There are several issues relating to the house that need to be addressed:
- The premises are worn and require extensive technical upgrades.
- The demand for modern, flexible study and work environments has increased.
- Safety, services and accessibility need to be strengthened to meet the expectations of students and staff.
- Campus development is progressing, and Universum must evolve to remain a natural focal point.
For how long will Universum be closed?
The refurbishment is scheduled to begin in September 2026. This means that if you are a new student joining us or returning to continue your studies in the autumn, you will need to go to other premises to access the support services currently available in Universum.
By the start of the autumn term in 2028, the refurbishment is expected to be complete and the services that will be based there will have moved in.
Where will I find the services currently situated in Universum?
The services currently based in Universum will be moving to temporary premises on campus. Among others, the Infocenter and the services currently available there will be located in, or accessible from, Aurora. The student pub E-puben will be moving to the U-bike premises in the west wing of the Physiology Building.
Which service would you like to visit?
Current information about location and opening hours can be found on the support services web pages.
What will it be like when the refurbishment is finished?
When the renovation is complete, several of the current services will move back into Universum. This includes the Infocenter, ITS Servicedesk and drop-in to the Student health service and study guidance.
Universum will provide more study places, new group rooms and other meeting spaces. There will also be a lunch restaurant, student pub and hairdresser and a strengthened service offering with new actors.
