Fokus Nordic advised Unity Living in the acquisition of Domus Academica in Helsinki

Press release – 12 May 2026

Fokus Nordic advised Unity Living in the acquisition of Domus Academica in Helsinki

Fokus Nordic acted as advisor to Unity Living, jointly owned by Brookfield and operating partner Mesh, in the acquisition of the iconic Domus Academica C and D buildings located at Hietaniemenkatu 14 in central Helsinki.

The property, acquired from Ylva, the company owned by the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY), comprises 229 student residential units together with restaurant, office and retail premises. Originally completed in 1952 and 1968, the buildings became some of the most recognised student housing assets in Finland.

Unity Living plans to redevelop the property into a modernised student living concept with a strong focus on community and student experience. Fokus Nordic will continue to support the project moving forward.

“Domus Academica is an iconic property with a unique history and an outstanding location in the heart of Helsinki. We are very pleased with the cooperation throughout the transaction process and look forward to supporting the property’s next phase together with our partners,” says Armon Bar-Tur, CEO of Unity Living.

The team has previously supported the development of Unity projects in Tampere and Helsinki’s Jätkäsaari district under the previous ownership structure. The Domus Academica project continues the cooperation with Brookfield and Mesh.

“This transaction marks an important next step in the evolution of student living concepts in Finland. Having supported the development of the earlier Unity projects, we are pleased to continue working together with Unity Living, Brookfield and Mesh in the redevelopment of Domus Academica. Fokus Nordic acted as transaction advisor and will continue supporting the project through development services as the iconic property enters a new era,” says Sanna Puhakainen, CEO of Fokus Nordic Finland.

Media contact – for more information:

Fokus Nordic
Sanna Puhakainen
CEO, Finland
sanna.puhakainen@fokusnordic.com
M: +358 505900599

Fokus Nordic
Hedi Ibenfeldt
Chief Marketing Officer
hedi.ibenfeldt@fokusnordic.com
+45 2447 0723

About Fokus Nordic
Fokus Nordic is one of the leading real estate managers in the Nordics, providing professional advisory services within investment, asset and fund management to both Nordic and international investors. We manage approximately EUR 10 billion (AuM)  in assets across Core, Core-Plus and Value-add strategies, supported by +150 specialists across Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

With extensive real estate expertise, local market presence and scale, we deliver end-to-end solutions that optimise investment processes and maximise long-term value for our clients.

We integrate sustainability into our core activities, and we adhere to the six principles for responsible investments as a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. For further information please visit  fokusnordic.com