The name Astra comes from an open naming competition that was organized to find a name reflecting a modern and international campus. The starting point was that the name should work in Swedish, Finnish, and English and be suitable for the building’s purpose. The winning name, Astra, was selected from 582 proposals by a jury consisting of representatives from the Foundation for Åbo Akademi, Åbo Akademi, Åbo Akademi Student Union, and external representatives.

The project began in autumn 2022 with the demolition of the old Gadolinia property. The demolition permit applied to the six-story laboratory building. The café section of Gadolinia and the terrace outside were preserved. The former café area has been incorporated into the new building and continues to operate as a café and lunch restaurant.

The 10,200-square-meter building is part of the Stjärnan block. The block includes, in addition to the new building, Åbo Akademi’s library Boktornet on Cathedral Street 2–4 and the School of Business on Henriksgatan 7. The block name Stjärnan originates from Carl Ludvig Engel’s city plan for Turku, drawn up after the Turku Fire of 1827.