We (the WordCamp Nordic 2019 team) want anyone who is interested in attending the conference both to be able to do so and also to feel welcome and taken care of. In this post we have gathered some information to help you plan your visit and to feel comfortable during the event. If you feel like there is something missing from the list, please feel free to contact the team.
Paasitorni, Conference Day (March 8th)
The Paasitorni conference center has access for guests with reduced mobility through the inner courtyard, where you can find automated doors. The entrance can be found between the main entrance (Paasivuorenkatu 5 A) and Hotel Scandic Paasi (Paasivuorenkatu 5 B).
Most of the spaces inside Paasitorni are accessible to all. The main spaces used during the conference are the Congress Hall and Sirkus and both are fully accessible. If there are speakers that need special access to the stage, in the Congress Hall it is possible to use either a wheelchair lift or a wheelchair ramp.
The Congress Hall and Sirkus are located on two different floors: the Congress Hall can be found on floor 2.5 and Sirkus on floor 0. The building has two lifts: Lift 1 runs between floors 1 (downstairs lobby), 2 (Restaurant Paasi), 3, 4, 5, and 6. Lift 2 runs between floors 0, 1, 1.5, 2.5 (Congress Hall), and 3.5. If you wish to move for example between the Congress Hall and Sirkus using lifts, you can use lift 1.
The accessible restrooms are located on floors 0 and 2.5, where the main spaces for the conference are. There is also an accessible restroom on floor 3 in case the other ones are occupied.
If you feel in need of a moment for yourself during the conference, you can wander around in the rest of Paasitorni. There are no rooms specifically reserved for this purpose by the organising team, but due to the structure of the building there are likely to be some small quiet spots that you can enjoy on other floors or close to the lobby area.
A-Grid, Contributor day (March 7th)
A-Grid is a start-up community, powered by and located in, the Aalto University campus. The community has its own building in Otakaari 5 with different kinds of office spaces, co-working areas, meeting spots, and event venues available. As part of Aalto University, the spaces should be equipped with the ramps, electrical doors, and elevators necessary to be accessed by everyone regardless of possible restrictions on movement or visual ability. The floor plan of A-Grid is available on their website.
Due to the Aalto University campus being located outside the Helsinki city centre in the neighbouring city Espoo, it is necessary to use public transportation to get there. The Metro is the easiest way to arrive: from the Aalto University metro station it takes around 8 minutes to get to A-Grid. The Metro itself is pretty accessible with every station having a lift and level platforms to board the metro. The stops are clearly announced so it is easy for visually impaired travelers to find the right station to leave the train.
Restaurant Paasi, After-party (March 8th)
The after party will be held in the same building as the actual conference, in the restaurant space Paasiravintola. The floor plan is available via the restaurant’s website. Paasiravintola and the after party can be accessed with lift number 1 if you arrive from the downstairs lobby.
The party space will be equipped with both open spaces, tables, and chairs. The lighting will be dimmed with some coloured lights added and the music will be kept at a moderate level so that it does not hinder conversation. If you feel like the music is too loud, please come tell one of the organisers or volunteers.
Even though the after party is held in Paasiravintola, the conference guests are allowed to move around the other parts of Paasitorni, too. So, if the atmosphere should feel too intense, you are welcome to take a small break in some of the quieter spaces around the conference center.