Exciting New Student Residences Under Construction at the University of Algarve!

The University of Algarve is set to expand its accommodation offerings with the construction of two new student residences. With contracts signed on January 17, the project is estimated to cost around €15.9 million and is expected to be completed by the end of Q1 next year. The new residences will add approximately 287 beds to the university's capacity, bringing the total to around 800 beds.

Details of the Residences

1. Penha II Residence:
   • Cost: €6.9 million
   • Location: Near the rector's residence on the Penha Campus
   • Size: 3,977 square meters with five floors
   • Accommodation: 125 beds (71 single rooms, 24 double rooms, 5 adapted rooms, and 1 T1 apartment)
     
     Penha II Residence

2. Gambelas Residence:
   • Cost: €9 million
   • Size: 1,781 square meters with three floors
   • Accommodation: 162 beds (80 single rooms, 38 double rooms, 5 accessible rooms, and 1 T1 apartment)
     
     Gambelas Residence

Both residences aim to enhance student life by being located within the university campuses, promoting a more integrated academic experience. Paulo Águas, the rector of UAlg, expressed optimism about the project, highlighting its modern design and features, which include individual rooms, modular construction elements, and workspaces for students.

Despite the increase in accommodation, Águas also criticized the impact of Local Accommodation (AL) on student housing accessibility, noting that many students struggle to find suitable housing options due to the prevalence of AL in non-touristic areas.

With this initiative, UAlg aims to address the housing needs of its over 10,000 students, particularly the 7,000 who commute daily from various municipalities.