Tampere technical college student organization (founded 12 November 1912) began the discussion about the apartment policy right after it was founded. Teku was a national educational establishment, whose student body came mostly outside Tampere and therefore needed apartments for the duration of the studies.
In 1936, Tampereen Insinöörit (Engineers of Tampere) founded an apartment committee, which was chaired by Jaakko Metsäpuro, an engineer. A plot was picked from Liisankallio; a place where the Kaleva Church sits today. The Winter War (1939-1940) buried all the dreams about construction, however.
The former Teku students founded and organization called the Support Organization for Insinöörioppilastalo in 1953 to acquire and maintain inexpensive apartment for the students of Tampere Technical College.
Tampere technical college student organization and the city of Tampere founded Insinöörioppilastalo Oy in 1955.
With the hard work of the student organization, volunteer work and fundraising, the property at Murtokatu 1 was acquired, where RASTI was built in 1960. It provided housing for about 200 engineering students. A business building was built on the same property where there is a hotel and business spaces. In 1973, the property in Kissanmaa at Ritakatu 3 (RUOTULA) was acquired.
The support organization for Insinöörioppilastalo formed a foundation with a part of their share of Insinöörioppilastalo, and established TEKU-foundation in 1973.
During 1974-75, the first four apartment buildings were completed in Ruotula, 81 two room apartments and 40 studios. The plan was to house four people in the two-room apartments and two in the studios, but the customs and time had surpassed the roommate-living. That’s why the Student Organization of the Technical Institute of Tampere (a mutual organization for engineering and technician students) made a proposal for expanding Ruotula area. This way the technician students were able to participate in the apartment activities of the engineering students.
The next six apartment buildings were finished in Ruotula during 1983-1986, two and three-room apartments for mainly the family living. The revision of engineering training in 1987 brought along different housing needs, when the starting age for the technical school was lowered significantly. Because of this, also the number of the students with families collapsed. The student organization made again a proposal for additional construction in 1987.
In 1997, two apartment buildings and a row house was completed in Ruotula. Tampere Polytechnic College Student Organization (TAMKO) was very actively behind this project.
In 2007, an apartment building was finished in Ruotula with 50 apartments.
As the education system has been developing, the activity of the engineering students benefits the entire student body of the Tampere Polytechnic College. TAMKO represents the residents of Insinöörioppilastalo Oy.