The new undergraduate and graduate student housing will be called Aquila and will be built in two sections – a tall 12-storey section and a low six-storey section – for a total of 13,000 square metres. The U-shaped building surround a courtyard and with its beautiful wooden facade, it will be interwoven with the pines in Rosendal, the emerging new neighbourhood between Stadsskogen and Dag Hammarskjölds väg in Uppsala. The project also includes renovation of three older heritage-listed buildings of a total of 350 square metres, which will be used for purposes such as bicycle storage.

“We know that demand for undergraduate and graduate student housing is strong all over the country and Akademiska Hus is therefore committed to creating more housing. With its fabulous location in the heart of Rosendal, Aquila will link the education and research environments at Ångström and BMC together with shopping, services and other housing currently under development in the area. Aquila’s location also provides proximity to recreation areas and public transportation,” says Susanne Malmgren, head of student housing at Akademiska Hus.

The new undergraduate and graduate student housing will be built according to Akademiska Hus’ Academic Living housing concept: the block will include a variety of housing options – ranging from traditional one-bedroom units with their own kitchens to apartments where up to six people share common spaces, such as bathrooms and kitchens. With this approach, Akademiska Hus will address the broad variety of needs and situations found among undergraduate and graduate students. New students are open to living and socialising with new friends, while more experienced students often prefer to live on their own.

“Sharing housing offers many benefits. It promotes a sense of social community, thereby preventing the loneliness that many students experience when they move to a new city. Coliving is also advantageous from a sustainability perspective in that functions and spaces can be used efficiently,” says Susanne Malmgren.

Construction on the new undergraduate and graduate student housing will begin in 2022, with occupancy expected in 2024.