Residência Universitária de Beja
Grupo Casais has started the assembly of the CREE Buildings structural elements at the student residence in Beja, thus responding to the housing needs of the student community.
Located next to the School of Technology and Management of the Polytechnic Institute of Beja, this residence covers an area of approximately 11,000 square meters, with a central courtyard and uncovered green area, encompassing a ground floor and three upper levels.
This €17 million project, expected to be completed over the next year, has the capacity to accommodate 503 students. It includes 327 housing units, of which 126 are single rooms, 150 are double rooms, 25 are single studios, and 26 are double studios, many of which are adapted for accessibility.
In addition to living spaces, and recognizing the importance of common areas that promote integration and leisure, the residence in Beja will include social areas, study rooms, communal kitchens, dining spaces, a laundry room, a gym, and technical areas.
The project is being developed using the CREE Buildings system – a hybrid model that combines timber and concrete, offering a more sustainable alternative compared to traditional construction – through industrialized construction methods. The Beja residence will be the second student housing project developed by the Casais Group using this industrialized construction approach.
Industrialization and off-site construction solutions have been central to the Casais Group’s strategy, which has been investing in innovation, technology, and the digitalization of processes applied to various types of projects, including housing, student residences, and hospitality. These efforts support the simulation of durability scenarios and cost comparisons. One of the main goals is to focus intensively on the key performance indicators of buildings, as well as their life-cycle costs, embracing technology as a means to foster sustainability in the sector and accelerate the green transition in construction.
“The student residence in Beja is a project we are very proud of. It is the second public project we are delivering using industrialized construction, and it clearly demonstrates that this construction model can be applied to all types of projects. Throughout this process – which is still ongoing – we have encountered some logistical challenges. However, having worked for several years with the hybrid model, the experience we gained from other projects, such as the Valença Residence, enabled us to overcome these challenges and learn for future projects,” says António Carlos Rodrigues, CEO of the Casais Group.
The Casais Group believes that innovation and sustainability are the future of the sector. For more than six years – three of which as a major shareholder – the Group has been working with CREE Buildings to support the green transition in construction. Using the CREE Buildings system, Casais implements the hybrid construction model, which merges timber and concrete. Over this period, dozens of projects have been developed using the hybrid model, including B&B hotels, student residences (Valença and Beja – still under construction), and co-working and office spaces such as MITH and The First, in Guimarães. The latter, a landmark building, has already won several awards, including Best Private Project at the Construir Awards, showcasing the excellent results of this solution.
