In 2022, the yellow student halls of residence in the University Park will be joined by a total of 132 new units of student accommodation in the University City. The former patient hotel is now being converted into accommodation for approx. 170 students, who will be living in the heart of the campus, close to the university. The first residents are expected to move in during 2022.

2020.05.01 | Signe Opstrup

A total of 132 units of student accommodation will be established with room for approx. 170 students in the former patient hotel in the University City. Photo: AART Architects

The patient hotel was originally built as accommodation for student nurses back in the 1930s. In the 1990s, the buildings were converted into a patient hotel that was used until Aarhus University Hospital moved out in early 2019. The red brick buildings are now entering a new era. In the coming years, they will house approx. 170 students, who will be joining the 500 students already living on campus in the Student Halls of Residence in the University Park.

Jørgen Lang is the managing director of Forskningsfondens Ejendomsselskab AS (FEAS), the company developing the areas and buildings in the University City in collaboration with Aarhus University, and he sees the establishment of student accommodation as an important step in creating an attractive and vibrant campus in the University City:

"The establishment of the first student accommodation in the University City is an important element in the development of the area, as the accommodation will add more life and contribute to a vibrant campus environment. Moreover, the future residents will be living in a very special location in the heart of the University City facing the future  university main street and neighbouring Aarhus BSS, which will move into the University City in 2025," explains Jørgen Lang, adding:

"As the first residents in the University City, the future residents will also be able to impact life in the University City and provide input to the further development of the area."

Extensive renovation on the way 

Even though the former patient hotel already contains many of the elements of a hall of residence, the buildings still need to undergo extensive conversion and renovation. This is to meet current requirements for student accommodation, and because of the poor general condition of the buildings.

The renovation will focus on maintaining the architectural style and spirit in which the buildings were built. This also applies to the many other renovations and new-builds in the University City in the coming years.

During the first 3-4 years, the main entrance to the accommodation will be from Peter Sabroes Gade, and a "courtyard" will be established on the square in front of the halls of residence. This will be temporarily screened off from the building site in the University City. In connection with completion and opening of the main street in 2025, the square will be opened towards the main street, and the halls of residence will have direct access from the University City.

Bicycle hotel with space for 1,000 bikes

A “bicycle hotel” will be established in the existing basement under the square in front of the student accommodation. The hotel will have space for approx. 1,000 bikes and have access directly from the main street in the University City. The bicycle basement will serve as central bicycle parking for users of the University City, including Aarhus BSS which will be located just opposite the basement. The bicycle basement will open when the university main street has been completed in 2025.

Timetable

The project to transform the patient hotel into student accommodation is currently in the final stages of planning, and the actual conversion is expected to be initiated after the 2020 summer holidays. In early 2022, the first residents will be able to move into the building, at the same time as building 1870 (in the northernmost corner of the University City) will be taken into use by the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics.

Facts about student accommodation

• A total of 132 units of student accommodation will be established with room for approx. 170 students in the former patient hotel in the University City.
• The buildings were originally built in two stages in the 1930s as accommodation for student nurses and qualified nurses, and in the 1990s they were converted into a patient hotel, and served as such until Aarhus University Hospital moved out in early 2019.
• The accommodation includes approx. 40 1½-2 room units and approx. 92 studio flats.
• All the units of student accommodation will be reserved for students at Aarhus University. Student accommodation with 1½-2 rooms will be prioritised for couples, one of whom must be a student at Aarhus University.
• FEAS is responsible for letting out and administering the student accommodation.
• The rooms will have a private bathroom and a kitchenette (without hotplates) with a sink.
• There will be two communal kitchens on each floor. Common rooms and common laundry facilities as well as bicycle parking will be established in the basement.
• The first residents are expected to move in during 2022.

Campus 2.0: Keep up-to-date with decisions

The steering committee for Campus 2.0 will discuss and make decisions regarding the building of the future student accommodation. The steering committee meets every three months to make strategic and managerial decisions regarding the development of the Aarhus University campus. Read more about the steering committee.

If you would like to keep up-to-date with decisions from the meetings, you can read a summary of decisions on the website. The summary will be posted on the website as soon as possible after the meetings.

Further information

• If you have any questions about the physical development of Aarhus University, contact Charlotte Lyngholm,  programme director for Campus 2.0.
• Read more about the physical development of Aarhus University at www.nycampus.au.dk
• Read more about FEAS at https://feas.dk/