Student housing in Bari will expand through a major regeneration project in the city centre. A consortium led by Esse Ingegneria won the regional competition to transform the former regional offices in Via Celso Ulpiani and the former Hotel Campus into a modern university residence. The project will provide 192 student beds together with a wide range of community services.
The development sits close to the University of Bari Aldo Moro. It combines accommodation with study rooms, social spaces and recreational facilities. Students will also benefit from meeting rooms, a fitness area, video and music rooms, a café and shared spaces designed to encourage collaboration and wellbeing. In addition, Colucci&Partner Architettura, Engiserv, architect Emilia Pellegrino, geologist Maria Serafina Gaudiano and engineer Angela Martino joined the design team.
Rather than demolishing the existing buildings, the project embraces adaptive reuse. This approach preserves valuable structures and reduces construction waste. It also limits environmental impacts while giving new life to underused properties. Furthermore, the University of Bari Aldo Moro will grant the former Hotel Campus to Adisu Puglia through a 30-year agreement. Consequently, the residence will strengthen the city’s academic infrastructure.
The initiative also supports a wider regional programme to expand student housing in Bari and across Puglia. Similar developments will take place in Lecce, Taranto, Brindisi and Foggia. Together, these projects will deliver more than 500 new student beds. They will also introduce new spaces for teaching, research and student life.
Ultimately, the Bari development offers more than student accommodation. It demonstrates how urban regeneration can revitalise public assets while supporting higher education and sustainable growth. By combining modern living spaces with community-focused facilities, the project will create an attractive destination for Italian and international students. At the same time, it will contribute to the long-term regeneration of the surrounding neighbourhood.
