University of Iceland facilities in Saga inaugurated today

A large crowd gathered today for a historic moment as Logi Einarsson, Minister of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, and Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland, officially inaugurated the University’s new premises at Saga. With the reopening of this landmark building the School of Education finds a new home, and the University’s IT Division gets fresh and updated facilities.

Relocating the School of Education from Stakkahlíð and Skipholt to the University’s main campus has been a long-awaited milestone since the merger of the Iceland College of Education and the University of Iceland in 2008. Renovation work at Saga began in early 2022, following the state’s acquisition of the building, formerly home to Hotel Saga for decades, in partnership with the Icelandic Student Services.

The building has been fully reconfigured for its new role, based on a detailed needs analysis carried out with staff and students. Both the exterior and interior have been rebuilt, covering 14,000 square metres, ensuring the space is optimised for the university community well into the future.

“This is a major milestone and a good one for the University of Iceland and for us all. Relocating the School of Education to the main campus will strengthen the integration of education sciences with other academic fields and reinforce the area as a true campus and hub of learning and research in Iceland. It is especially pleasing to see Saga take on a new, vibrant and noble role, while also strengthening the University community and commitment to excellence,” said Logi Einarsson, Minister of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, at today’s inauguration.

Teaching began at Saga this autumn, coinciding with the relocation of staff from the Schools of Education and Computer Science into their new workspaces. The building has quickly come alive, with most areas now in active use. Renovation continues on the iconic Grill restaurant on the top floor, while the teaching rooms, bike storage, and changing facilities on the ground floor are expected to open early next year.

At today’s ceremony, Rector Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir thanked everyone who contributed to making the Saga dream a reality:
“There is no doubt that relocating the Schools of Education and the IT Division to the University’s main campus at Melar will not only strengthen their operations but also unlock countless opportunities for collaboration and synergy that will benefit the University of Iceland as a whole.”

Flexible learning spaces at Saga

The refurbished Saga building now offers outstanding facilities for training future teachers and professionals in education and leisure studies. There are 40 teaching spaces in total, available to both the School of Education and other faculties. Specialised classrooms have been designed for arts and crafts subjects such as music, drama, design, and textiles, as well as tailored spaces for early childhood education, natural sciences, and mathematics. A movement research lab for sport and health sciences will also be housed in the building.

Kolbrún Þ. Pálsdóttir, Dean of the School of Education, who led today’s inauguration, commented: “It has been an incredible success to transform this historic hotel into a university. Those of us working here feel a wonderful atmosphere and are delighted to finally be based on the main campus. This move was essential to enable our academics and students to take an even more active role in the dynamic university community. In many ways, this marks the final step in the merger of the Iceland University of Education and the University of Iceland, a major milestone in the University’s history.”

Shared spaces and community

Saga is also home to over 100 student flats managed by the Icelandic Student Services, alongside other services including the Háma canteen, a beauty salon and barber shop, the Icelandic Literary Society, and the University of Iceland Press. In addition, Mixtúra. the City of Reykjavík’s creative and technology lab for education and leisure, has its base in the building.