The new student and researcher housing has been named Aquila, which is the constellation Eagle's Latin name and Uppland's landscape constellation. The location in Rosendal, the emerging new district between Stadsskogen and Dag Hammarskjölds väg, means that Ångström and BMC will be linked with retail, services and other housing that is currently being developed in the area. There is also proximity to recreational areas and communication routes.
Aquila will consist of 13,000 square meters of new construction divided into a high-rise of twelve storeys and a low-rise of six storeys. The building will shape itself like a U around a courtyard and with a beautiful wooden façade, it will be woven together with the pines in the area. The project also includes the reconstruction of three older listed buildings totalling 350 square metres, which will be used for bicycle storage, among other things.
"There is a great demand for student and researcher housing around the country, including in Uppsala. At Akademiska Hus, we are therefore committed to creating more housing on campus that is both sustainable and affordable. With more student housing, the attractiveness of the higher education institutions increases and the campus areas become more vibrant and open," says Annika Stridh, Head of Real Estate at Akademiska Hus.
Both shared accommodation and classic one-room apartments
The new student and researcher housing will be built according to Akademiska Hus' housing concept Academic Living, which means that the block will contain a variety of different types of apartments - everything from classic studios with their own kitchen to apartments where up to six people share common areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Sharing accommodation offers many advantages. It promotes social community and thus counteracts the feeling of loneliness that many students experience when they move to a new city. Shared housing is also positive from a sustainability perspective in that functions and spaces are shared together.
"The student housing situation is strained in the country and it is positive to see Akademiska Hus building for students and researchers in Uppsala. In SFS's latest housing report, it was stated that the pace of construction needs to increase to meet the students' need for safe housing for the entire study period, says Linn Svärd, president of the Swedish National Union of Students.
Solar cells on the roof
The building has also been equipped with solar cells that are estimated to produce 60,000 kWh of sustainable energy per year. The investment is part of Akademiska Hus' work to create locally produced renewable energy and to achieve a zero vision for the company's climate footprint.
The new student and researcher housing is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2024. Akademiska Hus is investing approximately SEK 360 million in the project.
Annika Stridh
Fastighetsområdeschef