Greystar is launching a major student accommodation project in Bologna with 400 beds

These are the student accommodation is the new frontier of interest in the Italian property market, a living model in which Italia still lags behind the rest of Europe.
Greystar is thus entering the Italian student housing market and has chosen to start in Bologna, with the 400-bed Mascarella project. The American group, which specialises in the investment, development and management of residential property, manages and administers properties with a total value of over 350 billion dollars.
The Mascarella project will provide 400 beds across a total area of 12,000 square metres, of which approximately 500 square metres will be allocated to communal spaces and facilities. The facility will offer studio flats and twin rooms, study and co-working areas, as well as a gym, communal kitchens and laundry facilities. It is scheduled to open in 2028. The choice of Bologna reflects the city’s large student population and the gap between demand for accommodation and the supply of professionally managed halls of residence. The city is home to around 87,000 students, 63 per cent of whom come from other areas. By contrast, accommodation managed by institutional operators accounts for only around 5.4 per cent of the market, according to figures cited by Greystar.

In Italia, the American group’s aim is to develop a pipeline of at least 2,500 beds for students by the end of 2027, thereby consolidating its presence in the main university cities. Following Bologna, the strategy focuses on Milan, Rome, Florence and Turin. There is as yet no indication of prices, which are currently the key issue under discussion.

“Italia has a large university population, significant domestic student mobility and a growing number of international students, but a relatively limited supply of student accommodation designed specifically for students,” explains Rafael Fernandez-Villaverde, Managing Director for Southern Europe at Greystar.

The project also stands out due to the progress made in the implementation process. “We have acquired a site that already has the necessary planning permission and authorisations, and have commissioned an experienced local contractor, enabling work to begin immediately,” says the manager.

The strategy encompasses various approaches to entering the market, ranging from the development of new residential properties to the acquisition of existing facilities and the conversion of existing buildings. The expansion of student housing also raises a key issue: increasing supply without losing sight of the spending power of students and their families. In major university cities, the cost of accommodation is, in fact, a significant item in household budgets.