SSH Proxima building is suitable solution for peak in housing demand

Starting September 2024, there is on-campus housing with SSH. The newly finished Proxima building offers rooms to 401 students for a fixed period of one year. To fix peak housing in September, all rooms are fitted with an extra foldaway bed. The maximum capacity of the Proxima building is therefore at 802 students.

The municipality of Groningen, student housing organisation SSH, the Hanze and the University of Groningen have conducted a servey to evaluate the usage of Proxima in the Fall Semester of 2024. The survey shows that most students do not mind an extra roommate in peak periods. In addition, over 70% of students in Proxima meet at least twice a week with a fellow tenant for activities. Over half of the tenants say they see additional benefit in on-campus housing. The municipaliy states furthermore that the shared housing concept will form an important addition to the student community and student wellbeing, showing increased attention for the issue of loneliness amongst students.

The Proxima building is an anwer to the strong demand for more international student housing in Groningen. At the start of the Fall semester in september, there is an overlap in housing demand as graduates have not left their students homes yet while freshman are coming to Groningen simultaneously.