Student housing at Öskjuhlíð formally opened
More than 250 apartments and rooms for students at Reykjavík University were formally opened at Nauthólsvegur today.
On that occasion, Ragnhildur Helgadóttir, RU President; Selma Rún Friðjónsdóttir, Vice President of the RU Student Association; Dagur B. Eggertsson, Mayor of Reykjavik, and Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, Minister of Education, Science and Culture planted trees by the houses with residents, RU staff, RU board and executive council, representatives of contractors, and architects in attendance.
Improves access to university studies
Ragnhildur Helgadóttir, President of RU, said it was a great pleasure to finally be able to formally open the houses. "It is very important for the access of students from the countryside and abroad to RU, that it is possible to offer affordable rental apartments. It is also a key factor for many families and in accordance with the university's policy. As well as congratulating the residents on their new home, I would like to thank the students for the drive, and the authorities for making this possible, Kanon Architects, and Jáverk for the houses themselves."
It was a good day to plant trees. From left: Ragnhildur Helgadóttir, RU President, Selma Rún Friðjónsdóttir, vice-president of the RI student union, Dagur B. Eggertsson, mayor of Reykjavík, and Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, Minister of Education, Science and Culture.
A total of 390 apartments
The construction of the RU Student Housing is planned as following: in the first two stages of development there are a total of 72 fully equipped single rooms, 78 single apartments, 78 two-room double apartments, 24 three-room family apartments, as well as six apartments for staff and partners. These are the facilities that were formally opened today. Plans call for the continued development next summer, following the relocation of Hjallastefnan's kindergarten.
A total of 390 apartments are expected to be built, for the most part for students but also for rent and temporary residence for RU staff and the university's partners, as well as a service centre. Construction has been successful and has met time and budget but the first excavation for the buildings foundation was taken in September 2018.
These are affordable rental apartments according to the rules of the Icelandic Housing Financing Fund. In the basement there are common laundry rooms, storage rooms and car and bicycle storages, and in the common courtyard there is a bicycle shed, barbecue and facilities for sports activities. Twelve single rooms on each floor share a fully equipped kitchen. Storage is included in all apartments and lockers in the rooms. Electricity, heating and electricity are included in the rental price. Byggingafélag námsmanna, BN, is in charge of renting out rooms and apartments and the general operation of the housing facilities.
