UAlg continues to refurbish university residences with funding from the PRR

The intervention at Penha University Residence will focus on 102 beds, thus contributing to displaced students' ability to continue their academic journey, ensuring high standards of safety and well-being. The refurbishment works began on May 13, with an expected completion date of September 6.

This is the fourth residence to undergo intervention, with three already renovated (Ferragial 16, Ferragial 17, and Lot E), totaling 237 beds, with an investment of around £3.5 million, financed by the PRR, equally at about 80%.

Integrated into the National Plan for Housing in Higher Education (PNAES), developed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the renovated residences and those already approved for renovation represent a total PRR funding of around £5 million. Regarding the refurbishment of residences, only two remain to be renovated (Berlin and Lot O), totaling 91 beds, which will occur sequentially during the 2024/25 academic year, to manage and minimize impacts on housing availability.

It is worth noting that the tender for the construction of two new residences, totaling 287 new beds, is scheduled for the second half of June 2024, also funded by the PRR.

Still awaiting funding results, the tender for the adaptation of Lot 36 for use as a residence, totaling 10 rooms, with a base price excluding VAT of €391,563.36 and an execution period of 90 days, ended on the 12th of last month.

Regarding refurbishments, it should be noted that improving quality of life and habitability underlies all interventions. To achieve the proposed objectives, measures will be implemented considering thermal behavior and energy efficiency. Interventions will include, among other aspects, the replacement of glazing, luminaires, and the domestic hot water system; implementation of a photovoltaic central for self-consumption; installation of heat pump air conditioning equipment; centralized technical management.

Housing issues are one of the University of Algarve's major concerns, as it remains committed to providing quality accommodation, contributing to the better comfort and safety of its students.