Construction of €56 million dorm ‘ultimate solution’ to students’ housing crisis

The construction of new student dormitories in Limassol to address the serious housing issue in the city is expected to commence in the coming months, it was announced in the contract signing ceremony on Friday afternoon.

The new student halls of the Technological University of Limassol (Tepak), estimated to cost over €56 million, will be located in the former British settlement of Berengaria, in Kato Polemidia.

On behalf of Tepak, the contract was signed by its Rector, Professor Panagiotis Zafiris, while representing the Wade Adams – Miltiades Neophytou JV consortium was Haris Konstantinou. Both parties expressed their satisfaction with this development and assured that they would work towards completing the project within the specified timeframes.

Professor Zafiris specifically mentioned that the building would be yet another jewel for the city of Limassol.

“As a university, we have made considerable efforts to address the housing issues, which, for us, are the most significant problem,” he said.

The university has provided grants and implemented student support policies for those in real need of housing, mitigating the issue to some extent, the rector said. He added that the approximately 500 new student dormitories “will provide the ultimate solution to our students’ housing problem.”

The cost of the project is expected to reach €56.3 million, and the funds are anticipated to be secured through the European Investment Bank and the Development Bank of the Republic of Cyprus.

For his part, Tepak’s Council President, Christos Chomatas, described this as a “historically significant agreement for the university, which, despite the adversities, fills us with pride and optimism for the future.”

The agreement marks an important milestone for Tepak, according to Head of Property Management Services Zoe Chadjivasilis, as the entire process had to proceed amid a pandemic, with virtual meetings. She stated, “Now the work begins, words are poor, and we promise to work hard to realize this project.”

Haris Konstantinou, representing the consortium of companies responsible for the project, noted that this is a challenge but “the expertise and commitment of the consortium are a guarantee that we will deliver it within the contract’s timeframe and with the specified quality standards.”

According to Konstantinou, the order to begin construction is expected within two weeks, and according to the contract, there is an additional three-week window for commencing work, estimated to be at the end of October or early November.

Architect Heraklis Papachristou briefly presented the project.

He explained that it is based on bioclimatic design and incorporates “green” communal spaces with internal courtyards, natural ventilation, and climate control through greenery and external verandas, moving away from conventional designs and providing an exceptional spatial experience.

The project involves 35,000 square metres of covered areas, which, besides nearly 500 beds, will include over 200 underground parking spaces, student reception offices, lounges, spaces for daily activities, a fully equipped restaurant, a gym, an aerobics hall, laundry facilities, and a multi-purpose hall.

The building is expected to be delivered by 2026, with construction taking place in two phases.

Due to the rising rent prices, with Limassol taking the lead, out-of-town students attending lectures at Tepak have been having difficulty finding accommodation. Among the measures decided by the tertiary institution was to call on home-owners in the district to host students for a small fee.