Santa Marta: The largest student residence in Venice will open its doors in 2019

The new student residence will open its doors by Summer 2019 and its 650 beds will be accessible to students enrolled at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice at the beginning of the 2019/20 academic year. The 30 million euro project was funded by the CDP and INPS.

Until 2014 the scientific departments at Ca’ Foscari used this 19th century complex for their educational and research activities that are now taking place in the Scientific Campus in Mestre. This restoration initiative is a significant contribution to student housing opportunities in Venice which will then represent twice as many options, promoting the students’ right to education and social housing.

The historic complex is organized in three buildings:

•    Cubo: 286 beds organized in 67 twin rooms and 152 single rooms;

•    Parallelepipedo: 136 beds organized in 59 twin rooms and 18 single rooms;

•    Edificio Sud: 228 beds organized in 112 twin rooms and 4 single rooms.

THE HOUSING FACILITIES

Each bedroom has fully furnished sleeping quarters and comes with a closet, a studying area (which includes a desk, a library and an ergonomic chair), a kitchenette (which includes cooking plates, a fridge, a sink and a hood), a dining table, and a bathroom.

THE SERVICES

Beyond providing accommodation, the residence will offer services aimed at implementing the living context of the guests: a third of the complex is dedicated to common spaces that include tutoring services and/or are dedicated to leisure. Furthermore the complex includes a green area open to non-residents thanks to the support of the City of Venice.

THE COMPLEX

Shared rooms and equipment as well as the services offered to the residents are located on the ground floor of the buildings, using the green area as a transition space.

In the Cubo, students will find the reception, the front-office, the offices, the classrooms, a conference room, a TV room, a gym, a laundry room and a game room.

In the Edificio Sud, there will be video rooms and conference rooms as well as a café - breakfast area and vending machines.

On the ground floor of the Parallelepipedo, students will find administrative offices, a meeting area, a conference room and restrooms, and a study room and a video room on the first floor. Upper floors will be exclusively devoted to housing purposes.

This project will facilitate the redevelopment of an area of Venice, taking the safeguard of the historic and architectural values of the renovated complex and at its environmental sustainability as guiding principles. The complex will be of class A energy efficiency - class A1 for the Parallelepipedo and class A3 for the Cubo and Edificio Sud. Renewable energy sources will be used thanks to the 54.93 kWp produced by photovoltaic installations and to the 12 solar heating panels.