Hines, Blue Noble launch in Italy with first student housing schemes

The company, which is owned by Hines, has invested in the assets together with Blue Noble, through a regulated fund which targets student housing and serviced apartments investments in Italy, managed by Savills Investment Management Sgr.
 
Aparto Milan Giovenale will open its doors in January 2022 and is located between Via Giovenale and Via Col Moschin, in close proximity to some of the city’s most renowned universities, including the prestigious University of Bocconi. This student accommodation will offer 584 beds spanning five different types – ensuite, twin, studio, studio premium and apartments - available for students to book for periods ranging from a few months up to one year. The site itself will provide state-of-the-art amenities including a gym and yoga studio, a cinema, outdoor areas with landscaped gardens, a basketball court, plenty of spaces for exercising, study rooms and laundry facilities. In addition, there will be a food and beverage offering, which will also open to non-residents.
 
Aparto Milan Ripamonti will open in September next year, adding a further 700 beds to Hines and Blu Noble’s student housing portfolio in Italy. The site is located near to Scalo Porta Romana, one of the most on-trend districts in the “new” Milan which is currently undergoing a major urban redevelopment 6. The building was acquired by a regulated fund managed by Prelios SGR.
 
Aparto Milan Giovenale and aparto Milan Ripamonti upon construction completion will be one of the first student accommodations in Italy with LEED Gold certification.

The arrival of aparto in Italy represents the first step in a plan of wide-scale openings by Hines. With 13 student housing sites already up and running in the UK and Ireland, the brand is expanding into other countries in Southern Europe including Spain with two openings in Barcelona scheduled for 2022 and 2023. Italy will also see two further inaugurations during 2025 which will increase accommodation options for students in Milan, focusing on the Bovisa and Milano Sesto areas.
 
 
Mario Abbadessa, senior managing director and country head of Hines, in Italy, said: ‘With this launch, Hines cements its strategy of innovation and long-term investment by introducing a model in Italy that combines development and management of student housing with a range of accommodation solutions and facilities linked to accessible, all-inclusive fees that guarantee a quality stay, a unique, all-around experience and, importantly, cost predictability.’
 
 
Tom Rix, managing director – operations at aparto, UK added: ‘It’s a significant milestone to launch our award-winning and market leading aparto product in Italy. There is strong demand high-quality student accommodation across the board and aparto aims to bridge that gap by providing first class facilities that students truly feel at home in.’