One of the largest student flats in the Selwerd neighbourhood will be the first to go gas free in Groningen.
By Hans de Preter / Translation by Traci White
The Duindoorn flat, also known as Selwerd III (the yellow Selwerd building), which was built in the 1960s, will be made earthquake-resistant. The building already has a solid concrete foundation, which means that making it more earthquake-resistant will be relatively easy.
The upgrades, which will be carried out by Groningen-based construction company Van Wijnen, will also bring down the utility costs for the student residents: the building will no longer be connected to the natural gas network.
After the renovations, the building will have 314 rooms. The Duindoorn flat is one of three student flats owned by Lefier in Selwerd. Certain shared accommodations, currently 12 m2, will be converted into 18 m2 semi-private rooms. Other changes include the addition of a common room, moving the façade forward in order to create more space inside the units and private showers in each unit. Students will share a kitchen with seven other tenants.
According to Van Wijnen, the upgrade should be complete by February 2019.
