High Five Open House: ‘It’s much more spacious than I expected’

It feels somewhat surreal to think that the very first residents will move into the new complex in August. Behind the hoardings on Cambrigdelaan, it is still a building site. The sound of diggers provides the background noise, whilst helmeted construction workers watch curiously as a group of thirty prospective tenants gathers at the entrance.

After a safety briefing (“do not go past the red-and-white tape”), the tour to the second floor of HighFive begins, where a number of flats have been opened up for viewing. In total, 1,250 students have been invited for six viewing days.

High Five's courtyard has already been decorated.

Robin (23), a student of Child and Youth Psychology, is one of them. She looks around with curiosity. She currently lives in De Sterren in Rijnsweerd, but would like to move into a studio flat during the master’s phase of her studies.

“It’s much more spacious than I expected! And there’s plenty of natural light,” Robin remarks enthusiastically upon seeing the space. The studio flats are around 20 square metres. They feature a private kitchen, a private shower and toilet, and a large window, which makes the whole space very light. The complex also has four larger studio flats, just over 30 square metres in size, one of which is available to view today.

The rooms in the shared accommodation are a bit smaller: 13 square metres. They do, however, have their own shower and toilet. Despite the large window, which makes the room very light, the space feels rather cramped. This is more than made up for by the large kitchen-diner with two kitchen units, which the ten residents share.

Robin wouldn’t move for a room, she says when she sees it. “In terms of location, this isn’t an improvement on De Sterren.” With 61 months on the waiting list, Robin stands a good chance of getting a studio. “Also because a lot are coming up at the same time.”

“I can get housing benefits for a studio flat.”

One of the two worktops in the shared kitchen and living room of a residential community.

Psychology student Anne (21) fears she’ll miss out. She’s currently ranked somewhere above the 1,200th spot. “But it never hurts to have a look. It all looks very nice. It’s a shame I don’t stand a chance,” she says, gritting her teeth.

More viewers today would prefer a studio flat to a room. Take maths student Jaap (20), for example. “I can get housing benefit for a studio flat. Not for a room, which makes it about 100 euros more expensive. And that’s for a smaller space.”

But that isn’t his only argument. “If you choose a room here, you’re just dumped into a house with other students, because you’re not allowed to visit potential flatmates beforehand. You have absolutely no idea if it’ll work out, which I don’t think is good for social cohesion.” And that’s set to continue, says the SSH, because second-generation residents are also allocated based on the time of registration.

For law student Jasmijn (20), these arguments aren’t enough to make her choose a studio: “A friendly atmosphere is more important than money!” Of course, she thinks it’s a shame she can’t choose her flatmates, because “if someone moves in who doesn’t fit in, that’s obviously a shame. But a studio is lonelier!”

“As a resident, you can also easily make ‘key friends’”

A group of prospective tenants is listening to an SSH staff member explaining the specifications of the various rooms and studios.

Walking through the corridors, the locks on the external doors and rooms quickly catch your eye. If you move in here, you won’t be given a physical key; instead, the doors are fitted with an iLOQ. This is a digital lock where the key is stored on your smartphone.

“It really only has advantages,” says SSH press officer Lisa Plender. “It’s much more practical, because we don’t have to schedule key collection times. That makes a big difference, especially with short-stay accommodation for international students. As a resident, you can also easily make ‘key friends’, allowing you to simply give a spare key to someone, such as your neighbours or your parents. And we no longer have keys lying around.”

Following the fire at the data centre in Almere, which caused many doors at Utrecht University buildings to be unable to be opened due to an internet outage, this system raises some questions. Plender can well imagine that. Could a similar disruption throw a spanner in the works here too?

According to Plender, future residents need not worry about that. “The locks aren’t connected to anything and get the small amount of power they need via NFC. But you do need a charged phone with an NFC chip.” All smartphones that allow contactless payments already have such a Near Field Communication chip.

Apart from the innovative locks, there are other new features in this student accommodation complex. It is also the first SSH building to be connected to its own cold-heat storage system, a more sustainable way to heat and cool. To this end, so-called fan coil units are mounted on the ceilings in the rooms to heat or cool the space.

Plenty of short-stay rooms for international students

Attached to the ceiling is the so-called fan coil unit, which blows warm and cool air into the room.

The 1,250 students invited to view the properties are those who have been registered with the SSH as house hunters for the longest time. This is because the rooms and studios are allocated based on the registration date. Viewing the properties is not an option.

Based on their preferences and registration date, they will receive a single offer. They can then choose to accept or decline it. Those invited stand a chance of securing one of the 490 studios or 63 rooms. The remaining accommodation is let to other target groups.

A large proportion of this will be allocated to short-stay accommodation, as agreed between the SSH and Utrecht University. This is a short-term housing option for international students who move into a furnished property for a semester.

Eleven adapted flats are designated for people with disabilities. These flats are slightly larger and feature, for example, an adjustable worktop and a more spacious bathroom. This allows students who use a wheelchair, amongst others, to live here independently.

However, seven rooms in the shared accommodation will also be allocated to ‘young people in need of support’ who are leaving care and are being helped by the SSH to make a fresh start.

What is certain is that the ground floor must house a communal space for the whole campus

A studio flat suitable for a student in a wheelchair. The worktop is height-adjustable, and the bathroom is larger.

Once downstairs, it’s clear that the ground floor is still almost completely empty. Only the laundry room is as good as finished. “The large space will become a new meeting place where students are not only welcome, but also co-owners,” says Plender. But she can’t yet say exactly what will be there.

“The Low Five Foundation, which has just been set up, will decide what will ultimately be housed in the plinth. But one thing is certain: it is to be a meeting place for the whole campus. The foundation is consulting with various students. But what is certain is that it must become a meeting space for the whole campus. That is why the residents’ committees of the other buildings have also been involved in the planning. From the end of summer, they will launch an accessible programme for the residents of High Five. And towards the end of the year, they will open the doors to a wider public.”

What's the view like from the 21st floor?