University campuses recognised for their safety and green spaces

University campuses are being promoted as a driving force for neighbourhood regeneration, particularly in terms of safety and urban green spaces. Across Italia’s university towns, from north to south, neighbourhoods are being transformed around their universities; now students, lecturers and even those living near these expanding campuses view the new spaces as a benefit for which they would even be willing to pay. This is not a paradox but the result of a survey carried out by the Sur-Lab research group at Bocconi University as part of the MUSA project.

The European model of university campuses is, generally speaking, very different from the American one. Whilst universities in the US are mostly worlds unto themselves, around which small towns have in some cases sprung up, in Europe, by contrast, universities coexist with and form part of the urban landscape. A process that had largely stalled in Italy but has regained momentum in recent years and is growing everywhere following the housing crisis for students living away from home, driven by the need for student accommodation.

Researchers at sur-Lab have sought to understand the resulting impact, starting with Milan – Italia’s second-largest university hub after Rome – where the influence of its universities is now being felt in many of the city’s neighbourhoods. A total of 4,000 interviews were conducted on and off five campuses: Bocconi, Politecnico (Piazza Leonardo da Vinci), Bicocca, and both the main campus and the Mind site of the University of Milan. In essence, they asked what effects are perceived, whether residents share the same view as students and staff, and how much people would be willing to pay to enjoy the same benefits brought about by the neighbourhood’s regeneration – an economic indicator that says a great deal about the value of a service.

“Universities are establishing themselves as drivers of innovation and urban regeneration, capable of generating social value,” explains Edoardo Croci, director of Sur-Lab. “Research shows that campuses have a tangible, measurable and perceptible impact in environmental, social and economic terms.”

There are five key factors. These include recreational and sporting use, aesthetic improvements to the area, and – a factor that should not be underestimated given the current climate change – a reduction in summer temperatures and the risk of flooding. Then there is the green energy transition effect driven by university campuses that are now at the forefront of energy efficiency: reduced dependence on fossil fuels, lower energy costs in the long term, and a reduction in pollutants and CO2. The third parameter is sustainable mobility, with the creation of new public spaces, improved air quality, fewer accidents and lower emissions, benefits for physical health and reduced traffic congestion. These benefits are appreciated not only by students but also by local residents. Finally, urban comfort & well-being translates into an increase in perceived safety, better energy management and improved quality and usability of public spaces. These benefits are most appreciated by adults, graduates and residents living near the campuses.