The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Resa, and the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council inaugurated the second student residence hall on the Álava Campus this Wednesday, October 28. This adds 224 new places to those already available at the UPV/EHU, offering individual and double rooms, penthouse apartments, and spaces designed for studying, coexisting, and enjoying university life.
The residence, managed by Resa under the name Resa Torres Gasteiz, spans a total constructed area of 5,800 square meters and provides 224 beds distributed in single and double rooms. The company also introduces a new accommodation type with apartments in the penthouses, capable of housing up to three residents. As a novelty, the residence includes communal bicycle racks with electric charging options, reinforcing its commitment to more sustainable mobility.
The inauguration was attended by Ixone Fernández de Labastida Medina, Vice-Rector of the Álava Campus of the UPV/EHU; Itziar Fernández Villanueva, Director of Care and Support for the University Community of the Basque Government; Sonia Díaz de Corcuera Ruiz de Oña, 1st Deputy Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz; Borja Rodríguez Ramajo, Councilor for Urban Planning of the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council; Ana Rosa López de Uralde Gómez, Councilor for Youth of the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council, and Marta Sánchez, CEO of Resa. A guided tour of the Resa Torres Gasteiz facilities followed the presentation.
Sonia Díaz de Corcuera, Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Culture and Education, congratulated Resa on opening its second student residence in Vitoria-Gasteiz and thanked the company for its continued investment in the city. Díaz de Corcuera highlighted the university's role in Vitoria-Gasteiz: "The university not only educates our young people. It also contributes knowledge, research, new ideas, and talent. All of this enriches our city, makes it more dynamic, and contributes to its future."
Díaz de Corcuera also emphasized the importance of students arriving in Vitoria-Gasteiz feeling a sense of belonging: "We want students to find a place here to live, meet people, enjoy the city, and develop this crucial stage of their lives. Adequate accommodation is fundamental for this. This new residence, with 224 places, expands the available options and offers a space designed for studying, coexisting, and creating experiences."
The residence is strategically located next to the UPV/EHU's Faculty of Economics and Business, facilitating student access to university facilities and promoting integration into the city's academic life. The project was developed on municipal public land under a concession from the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council, helping to expand accommodation options for university students and enhance the appeal of the capital of Álava as an academic destination.
Furthermore, Ixone Fernández, Vice-Rector of the Álava Campus of the UPV/EHU, detailed the scholarships offered for this project: "As a result of the inter-institutional collaboration agreement and the good understanding between the UPV/EHU and the RESA Torre Gasteiz student residence, we have offered two accommodation scholarships for students facing economic difficulties. Working together is essential for cities like Vitoria-Gasteiz to become leading university hubs where students can develop their careers with complete stability. University development cannot be separated from a sufficient, high-quality, and sustainable residential offering."
The UPV/EHU has both contracted and own residences, all of which are highly sought after by students. The pre-registration period for the academic year is in April, and in many cases, available places are filled during this period by full-time students.
In Álava, besides the Resa Torres Gasteiz residence, there is the Tomás Alfaro Fournier University Residence located at Paseo de la Zumaquera, 21, with 222 places. In Bizkaia, the university has the Colegio Mayor Miguel de Unamuno with 202 places, located in Bilbao at Calle Lehendakari Agirre, 140, and the Resa Residencia Universitaria Blas de Otero, at Calle Cortes 38, with capacity for 220 students. In Gipuzkoa, the Residencia Universitaria Manuel Agud Querol is located at Paseo de Berio, 9 in Donostia.
Additionally, beyond the UPV/EHU's own and contracted residences, students can explore other accommodation options in the three provincial capitals, through the Ostatu Accommodation Service, or the Solidarity Accommodation option, where the UPV/EHU has several agreements offering students the chance to access affordable housing in exchange for collaborating on social initiatives.
