Affordable Student Accommodation: ‘Chiostro26’, with 138 beds, has opened in Parma

‘Chiostro26’, the new student accommodation complex covering approximately 3,000 square metres and offering 138 beds (across the student accommodation and city hotel), was officially opened today in Parma. Management of the new facility has been entrusted to Colser, a cooperative and one of the leading national operators in the facility management sector, based in the same city.

The initiative is backed by the iGeneration fund, managed by Investire SGR (Banca Finnat Group), whose main investors are CDP Real Asset SGR (CDP Group) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) – part of the European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group) – and includes participation from some of Italy’s leading banking foundations and pension funds, including the Cariparma Foundation. The project, which involved an investment of around ten million euros, does not receive any public funding under the PNRR.

Speakers at the launch event included: Michele Guerra, Mayor of Parma; Paolo Martelli, Rector of the University of Parma; and the partners of the iGeneration Fund: Elena Saccenti, Vice-President of the Cariparma Foundation; Veronica Tibiletti, Board Member of CDP Real Asset SGR; John Mcilwaine, EIF Representative for Italia; Paolo Boleso, Head of Residential & Social Infrastructure at Investire SGR (Banca Finnat Group); and Cristina Bazzini, Chair of Colser.

The project will provide a total of 138 beds for university students, with some allocated for temporary accommodation to house visiting professors and researchers. The complex comprises single and double rooms, communal areas dedicated to study and community building, as well as the two historic courtyards, which have undergone careful restoration and will be opened up for the community to enjoy.

The new student accommodation, complete with ancillary facilities, was created under the supervision of the Superintendency for Architectural and Landscape Heritage through a comprehensive restoration project, conservation-based refurbishment and seismic reinforcement of the complex known as the ‘Ex Convento dei Frati Minori’, situated in Borgo Padre Onorio and disused for over 30 years. The architectural design was carried out by Studio Cazzulani Architetti, whilst the construction work was entrusted to Seraco S.r.l.