Modernization of the student residence in Zwickau: 15 million euro investment!

Modernization of the student residence in Zwickau: 15 million euro investment!

On July 14, 2025, it was announced that the student residence at Innere Schneeberger Straße 23, House 1, would be extensively modernized. The aim of this measure is to create modern living space for students that meets current needs. Costing around 15 million euros, the modernization is supported by the “Young Living” funding program from both the federal government and the Free State, with 10 million euros being provided from this program alone. This initiative is part of a larger plan aimed at providing better housing conditions for young people in large cities where affordable housing is becoming increasingly scarce. bmwsb.bund.de reports that students and trainees in particular, who often struggle with low incomes, should benefit from these changes.

The building itself, which was built in 1971 and last renovated in 1997, no longer meets the structural requirements and living needs of today's students. The gutting of the house began after all rooms had been moved out by the end of February 2023. In mid-March 2023, the administration moved to Villa Falck, Outer Schneeberger Straße 35, to make space for the construction work. The construction work itself began at the end of June 2023.

Modern forms of living and sustainable planning

After the planned changes, the residence hall will primarily offer small apartments and two-person residential units. The small apartments will be fully furnished, with a living space of around 16 m². After completion of the modernization work, a total of 287 bed places will be available, which means an increase of 18 places. Attention is also paid to sustainability, as the balconies should be covered with plants. The aim is also to return the Null13 student club to its original rooms, which should help to revitalize social life in the dormitory.

The need for such projects is made clear by the situation in the cities. According to a survey by the German Student Union, in September 2022 there were over 35,000 people in eleven large university cities on waiting lists for places in dormitories. The “Young Living” program aims to counteract this bottleneck by creating new dormitory places and modernizing existing ones. A total of 500 million euros in federal funds were made available in the 2023 program year to support young people in finding affordable housing.

A look beyond the borders

Social housing plays a crucial role in creating living space in inner cities. As stated in the Bavarian Housing Promotion Act, it is important that the funding measures are adapted to local needs. It becomes clear there that not only new buildings are supported, but also conversions and modernizations of existing properties are necessary in order to meet the needs of students. The example of the “AzubiWerk Munich” shows how these measures can be implemented in practice by implementing a pilot project with 118 places to meet the needs of young people foerderkatalog.de.

The modernized student residence in Zwickau is expected to reopen in the 2026/2027 winter semester. For many students it is an important step into the future, because a pleasant and modern living situation is not only important for studying, but also has a positive impact on the quality of life of young people.