Twice as much student accommodation on the Sart Tilman campus

The project to build new student accommodation on the Sart Tilman campus of ULiège is progressing; it was recently the subject of a preliminary information meeting which enabled the Ethias-Moury-Quares consortium and ULiège to present the project to local residents, to hear their observations and to answer their questions. This is one of the stages prior to the application for a building permit. The architectural design is the work of the association of architectural offices UAU and Altiplan. LIFE is acting as project coordinator.

The project aims to almost double the number of accessible housing units on the Sart Tilman campus by building 400 new rooms or studios (building B13X) in addition to the current supply of 410 units in the former student residences (B13), which will be completely renovated, and the newly built B13b residence. A total of 810 rooms (including 60 studio flats), both new and renovated, will be available to students, foreign researchers and international exchange students.

This programme contributes to satisfying a growing demand for accommodation on the site which ULiège cannot currently meet, and to increasing the attractiveness of the University to students and their quality of life. A significant 24% of the total supply will be offered at moderate rental prices.

For the Ethias-Moury-Quares consortium, beneficiary of the public concession granted by ULiège for a period of 65 years, this represents an investment of more than 60 million euros, including the construction of the new rooms and the complete renovation of the current student residences. In addition, the same consortium will be responsible for operating the 810-unit complex for the duration of the concession.

The construction of the new B13X building will not involve any tree cutting. Its height will not exceed that of the current B13b. The residents of the eco-neighbourhood will retain the view of the Sart Tilman forest.

In terms of mobility, car traffic and unauthorised parking on “Rue des Homes” will be eliminated by the construction of 173 parking spaces in an outdoor car park at the rear of the new building, with entry/exit at the intersection of “Rue de l'Aunaie” and “Rue des Homes”. This new car park will be out of sight of local residents. For students, pedestrian paths will be improved to reach classrooms and bus stops, and 240 bicycle spaces will be created. The urban planning programme also includes the creation of landscaped areas and the planting of flower beds and trees.

The investor consortium highlights the project's strengths:

Investing in this large-scale project is fully in line with Ethias' sustainable and responsible investment policy, since its approach combines an environmental dynamic with student well-being, while ensuring accessibility to the greatest number of people. In addition to the financial return, the insurer is also opting for a social return that will contribute to the well-being of student residents throughout their university career, but also to society in general.

For Moury, the focus is on the sustainability of the materials that will be used for both the renovation and the new construction. As we are in a period of climatic transition, we will use centralised heat production via heat pumps.  In addition, we will compensate for consumption on site by placing a large number of photovoltaic panels.

Quares strives to provide a quality living environment for students with an emphasis on innovation, technology and ecology, without forgetting the human aspect, evolving in a community environment and taking responsibility and commitment. Quares is responsible for the day-to-day management of the student residences at Sart Tilman and will be the point of contact for students, the University, local residents, authorities and suppliers. Good communication and cooperation between all parties involved will enable us to continue to support the growth of the university and the local economy.