Dutch builder Heijmans to add 483 student rooms in €47M Utrecht project
Koninklijke Heijmans, a Dutch construction company, reported that it has been selected by SSH to design and build a student housing complex in Utrecht that will add 483 rooms to the city’s tight housing supply, the organizations said Tuesday.
The project, called Ginkgo, is estimated to generate 47 million euros in revenue for Heijmans. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027 and is expected to be completed by mid-2029.
The complex will be built using prefabrication methods and will consist entirely of student rooms, divided into 44 vertical student houses. Each house will span three stacked levels and include private rooms, as well as shared living rooms, kitchens, toilets, and bathrooms. A central passage will provide access to a shared courtyard with sports facilities. A landscaped grassy mound within the green space is intended to create opportunities for students to meet.
"This project provides urgently needed student housing in Utrecht. We are pleased to realize a project consisting entirely of non-independent student rooms. The concept of vertical student houses allows students to live together comfortably and provides ample space for meeting and social interaction. This is beneficial for students’ development and contributes to combating loneliness,” said Lars Wolfkamp, development manager at SSH.
The project includes sustainability measures such as a collective thermal energy storage system (WKO) powered by solar energy, combined with smart energy management.
“The construction is nature-inclusive, and where possible, we use circular materials, such as window frames. By prefabricating the complex, we reduce pressure on the surrounding area, helping minimize environmental disruption and enhancing the efficiency of the construction process. In doing so, we deliver on our strategic pillars: well-being, sustainability, and feasibility,” said Remco Melgert, director of residential construction at Heijmans.
