There was a celebratory atmosphere as ground was broken yesterday on new student and university accommodation in Akureyri. Berglind Ósk Guðmundsdóttir, mayor of Akureyri, Áslaug Ásgeirsdóttir, rector of the University of Akureyri, Aðalbjörn Jóhannsson, chair of Stúdentafélag Háskólans á Akureyri (the University of Akureyri Student Association), and Böðvar Ingi Guðjónsson, a first-year psychology student at the university, took part in the ceremony.
Three four- to five-storey apartment buildings will be constructed beside the university, containing 126 flats and single rooms with space for up to 170 residents.
Jóhannes Baldur Guðmundsson is chief executive of Félagsstofnun stúdenta á Akureyri (the Akureyri Student Welfare Organisation).
There has been a great need for this in recent years. These are three buildings on Norðurslóð. The total area is around 6,700 square metres. There will be 62 small flats, that is studio and one-bedroom flats, and 64 single rooms.
Finally an opportunity to build a vibrant student community
Áslaug was delighted with the day's events when RÚV spoke to her this afternoon.
These are very exciting times. It has been a long time since new student accommodation was built in Akureyri.
It is a major development, but it is hoped the first residents will be able to move in in two years.
Student accommodation will now be much closer to the university. This enables us to continue building a vibrant student community.
Þingvellir, Sólvellir and Akurvellir
Félagsstofnun stúdenta á Akureyri (the Akureyri Student Welfare Organisation), FÉSTA, has contracted construction company K16 ehf. to build the student accommodation. The estimated cost is around ISK 4.5 billion.
A statement from the University of Akureyri says:
FÉSTA contracted K16 ehf. to build the student accommodation following a design competition. Eleven proposals were submitted. Nordic Office of Architecture's proposal won first prize. The buildings will be named Sólvellir, Þingvellir and Akurvellir. The development represents a major step towards meeting demand for suitable and affordable housing for students at the University of Akureyri
