The Confiança University Residence was inaugurated this Thursday in Braga, representing the largest student housing infrastructure built in Portugal with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Plan, both in capacity and investment value. With 786 beds and a cost exceeding 29 million euros, the ceremony was attended by the Minister of Education, Fernando Alexandre, the Mayor of Braga, João Rodrigues, the Rector of the University of Minho, Pedro Arezes, the administrator of SASUM, Alexandra Seixas, and the president of AAUMinho, Luís Guedes.
The project results from the rehabilitation of the former Confiança Factory, one of the most emblematic buildings in the city of Braga, combining the historic building with a new interconnected construction. The intervention seeks to address the increased demand for affordable student housing, offering single and double rooms, studios and equipped apartments with kitchenette, including accommodations adapted for people with reduced mobility, as well as study rooms, kitchens, dining spaces, laundry facilities and social areas.
Built by Grupo Casais, the infrastructure incorporates sustainable solutions, namely the CREE hybrid system and Digital Twin technology for energy management and building maintenance. In addition to the housing component, the project preserves the memory of the former soap and perfume factory, foreseeing a space dedicated to its history and reinforcing the connection between heritage, culture and academic life. The first students have already begun to occupy the space and the vacancies are practically filled.
