Heijmans to build major student complex in Utrecht

Royal Heijmans has been selected by the Utrecht-based housing corporation SSH to design and build the De Ginkgo student accommodation complex in Utrecht. The complex will provide housing for up to 483 students. The contract represents a revenue value of approximately € 47 million for Heijmans. Construction of this high-quality and sustainable complex will commence in 2027, with the project scheduled for completion in mid-2029.

The complex will be divided into 44 student residences, designed to encourage social interaction. Students enter the communal courtyard garden, which will include sports facilities, via the central passageway. Surrounded by greenery, this gently sloping hill will be a great place for social interaction. Inside the buildings, each student residence will be spread over three stacked levels, comprising shared student rooms, a communal living room with kitchen, and toilets and bathrooms. In line with Heijmans’ commitment to grid-conscious construction, De Ginkgo will be equipped with a collective thermal energy storage system (heat and cold storage), which will run on solar power. The complex will also include a smart energy management system.

Comprehensive area development

De Ginkgo is the final phase of the De Kwekerij inner-city area development in Utrecht: a green and vibrant residential environment with a clear focus on the well-being and health of the students living there. De Kwekerij is situated on Burgemeester Fockema Andreaelaan in Utrecht, across from the Diakonessen Hospital and close to various schools.

Lars Wolfkamp, development manager at SSH: “With this project, we are adding student accommodation that is so urgently needed in Utrecht. We are delighted to be able to realise a project consisting entirely of shared student residences. The concept of vertical student residences creates a space for students to live together comfortably, while also providing plenty of space for socialising and communal living. This will boost the students’ personal development and help combat loneliness”.

Remco Melgert, Director of Residential Building at Heijmans: “This project clearly demonstrates how, together with our client, we are helping to create a healthy living environment. We will create a living environment where students feel at home, with plenty of space for socialising and personal development. The construction will be nature-inclusive and, where possible, we will use circular materials, such as window frames. And because we will be prefabricating the complex, we will reduce the impact on the surrounding area. By doing this, we are putting into practice our strategic pillars: well-being, sustainability and producibility.”