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The current building, which is located above the Erasmus University College Brussels and VUB campus in Jette, has been home to around 260 students for decades. In 2024, the building entered a new phase with a complete renovation focused on sustainability, comfort and future-proof student living.
Together with architects POLO and Archipelago, LIFE came up with a concept all about identity, affordability and a wide range of living options. The building has two wings that are pretty much the same, joined together at the centre, which is going to be the social heart of the place. As well as the vertical circulation, this central space will have shared kitchens and living areas, creating opportunities for students to meet and connect.
Each floor is split into four residential clusters, with between five and fifteen students in each, as well as a number of self-contained studios. The smaller five-person shared apartments provide a more intimate living experience, while a mix of en-suite rooms, shared-facility rooms and studios ensures a varied and accessible housing offer. This diversity means that LIFE can meet the growing demand for affordable student housing in Brussels while making the most of the existing building structure.
The top floor is going to be all about self-contained studios and premium shared amenities, like a sky lounge, study area, rooftop terrace and cinema and gaming room.
When it’s finished, the place will have around 200 student rooms and studios, with a big focus on wellbeing, inclusivity and sustainability.
Sustainability is at the heart of the project. By keeping the existing concrete structure, we’ll avoid around 400 tonnes of CO2 emissions right from the start. We’re also putting in place things like super-insulated buildings, heat pumps that don’t use fossil fuels, smart meters and building management systems, rainwater reuse and a 50 kWp solar installation. Every design decision and material selection is guided by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles to minimise the building’s environmental impact throughout its lifetime.
LIFE is both developer and investor, while QUARES Student Housing is operator and investment partner. After working together on Campus Sart Tilman in Liège, this is the second student housing project they’re doing together, and it strengthens the long-term partnership between the two companies even more.
This project is another big step in LIFE’s work with leading colleges and universities. After teaming up with universities in the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Belgium, including the University of Antwerp and VUB, LIFE is delighted to welcome Erasmus University College Brussels as a new long-term partner in creating high-quality student housing.
