The British group Vita Student lands strongly in the Spanish university residences sector, in which it intends to invest 350 million euros in the coming years.
Barcelona has been the city chosen as the spearhead in the Spanish market. In this city, it will open its first student residence next September, Vita Student Pedralbes, which will have 274 places and will be located on Esplugues Avenue, in the Pedralbes neighbourhood.
In the Catalan capital, it will also open its second complex at the beginning of 2023. Vita Student Poblenou will open its doors on Calle Sancho de Ávila, in the 22@ technology district, and will have capacity for 349 students.
Despite the difference in size, the volume of investment in both projects is similar and adds up to an investment of 100 million euros. In addition, the opening of the two facilities will result in the creation of 50 direct jobs in Barcelona, according to the company, which plans to generate a total of 750 jobs in Spain.
For now, the British group has set up an office in Barcelona from where it will plan its expansion in the Iberian Peninsula.
"The large student community of business universities is in Spain. However, when we investigated we realized that there is a huge deficit of student residence beds. We have made this first investment in the Catalan capital, but we will not stop here, our goal is to expand throughout Spain", explained Fernando Rodríguez, General Manager of Vita Student in Spain.
Thus, Vita Group contemplates an investment of 350 million euros in our country to expand its residences beyond Barcelona. In Madrid they have already begun to manage the deployment of their brand and infrastructure. "The company's goal would be to reach 4,500 beds and expand to cities with more university influence, such as Madrid or Lisbon," says Rodríguez.
The ones that will be inaugurated in Barcelona are the first residences of the company directed by Mark Stott outside the United Kingdom, where he manages 22 complexes of this type.
Building in Pedralbes
Nature and sustainability will be the protagonists of the design that the Catalan studio Batlleiroig has made for the Pedralbes project. According to its creators, Enric Batlle and Joan Roig, it is a concept that goes beyond accommodation, where "spaces, nature, physical and mental well-being or integration into the community take center stage".
The facilities, designed under parameters of sustainability and energy saving, will have renewable sources, high-quality finishes and 24-hour care services, common spaces, kitchens, sports facilities, swimming pool, Wi-Fi, breakfast service, cleaning, free bicycles , study areas and scheduled activities that will be accessible to all students in the city.
"Our residences are not just a place to sleep, we want the student to have an educational experience and personal growth and that the university community, the neighbors and the city can also benefit from the project", said Ioannis Verdelis, director of development life international.