The new year starts on a promising note for around 35 residents of Calslaan Oud as their homes receive an exciting upgrade. The first phase includes seven residential buildings on the Calslaan, with the sustainability and renovation of one building already completed as a pilot project in 2024. The knowledge and experiences gained from this pilot are being used to improve the remaining six buildings on Calslaan Oud. This marks a significant milestone in the Campus Upgrade. To celebrate this moment, the students symbolically handed over the keys to their building to Veste Wonen and the Ons Verbond consortium.
Phased approach and collaboration
The project, carried out by Veste Wonen in collaboration with the Ons Verbond consortium, is being approached in phases. The execution considers challenges such as the monumental status of some buildings, local flora and fauna, and grid congestion. The renovations include insulating roofs, walls, and floors, updating bathrooms, toilets, and window frames, installing new systems to make the buildings gas-free, and modernizing kitchens. These efforts aim to make the housing more sustainable and future-proof. The phased approach ensures that experiences from earlier phases are applied to subsequent renovations.
Dennis Hesselink, on behalf of Ons Verbond, commented: “With this successful pilot, we’ve established a solid foundation. Collaboration has been the key to success, both during the pilot and throughout the entire construction process.”
At the end of November, the students from Calslaan Oud 5 returned to their renovated housing. Their feedback has been very positive. Collaboration with the residents has been crucial to the project. “The students’ feedback has helped us optimize the process,” said Jolien Belt-Jansen, project leader. The returning residents were welcomed with a housewarming gift: a set of pans for their new kitchen appliances.
Planning and future outlook
The first phase at the Calslaan is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026. Following that, the renovation of three buildings on Campuslaan (205 housing units) will begin, followed by the Piramids and Mastabas (679 housing units). The entire project is anticipated to be completed by 2029.
With this initiative, Veste Wonen and Ons Verbond are taking a major step towards creating a sustainable and future-proof living environment for students on the UT Campus.