UMONS inaugurates the “Cité de la Gare”, its 9th university residence in the City of Mons
21st March was a landmark day for UMONS and developer ION, who inaugurated the “Cité de la Gare”, a student hall of residence located at 12-13 Place Léopold, opposite Mons’ new train station.
This ambitious project is the solution to the growing demand for quality student accommodation in Mons, where there has been a shortage for several years. This is explained, in part, by the university’s current halls of residence, which are becoming increasingly rundown, as well as by the steady growth of the university itself.
“Through this partnership with ION and the inauguration of this new hall of residence, the University of Mons is taking another step towards realising its proactive policy of providing accommodation for its students. This 9th hall of residence is another step towards the goal we have set ourselves of doubling our accommodation capacity,” says Philippe Mettens, Administrator of UMONS.
The new hall of residence offers 86 modern, en-suite rooms, as well as accommodation for the concierge. Each floor has a communal kitchen, while residents also have access to a spacious communal study room at basement level, with an enclosed courtyard at the rear of the building. A bicycle storage area, accessible by a dedicated lift from the street, is also provided to encourage eco-friendly travel.
“This project will enable us to better meet the demands of our students for whom we are currently unable to cater and who are forced either to rent private accommodation of varying prices and health and safety standards, or to travel by car to our campuses, thus adding to the traffic problems in the City. The quality, reasonably priced accommodation that UMONS offers not only meets the standards defined together with the City of Mons, but also greatly encourages eco-friendly modes of transport in Mons, reducing parking problems which have recently been brought to our attention through the results of student surveys,” emphasises Prof. Philippe Dubois, Rector of UMONS.
This newly developed project stands out, above all, for its elegant architecture, which subtly blends in with the surrounding buildings and forms a key part of the neighbourhood’s revival. This new façade was built to replace two buildings that had been empty for many years, were partially derelict and were a major eyesore in the area.
A derelict building that has become a centre of excellence for students
The developer ION has overseen the development of the site, working on the interior design and enlisting the services of a talented young Belgian artist to paint a large mural in the English courtyard.
“Turning an old urban wasteland into a centre of excellence for students is a perfect example of our expertise and our commitment to sustainable, high-quality urban planning. The Cité de la Gare is the culmination of a successful collaboration between UMONS, the City of Mons and the ION group, and perfectly showcases what can be achieved when public and private organisations join forces for the common good,” explains Hugues Hallard, Senior Project Developer for ION.
By the same token, the City of Mons welcomes this new phase in the complete revival of this area of the city, “where we have already renovated almost all the roads, squares and public parks” as Maxime Pourtois, Deputy Mayor, in charge of Urban Planning, Territorial Development, Classified Heritage, Finance and Budget, explains.
Energy efficiency was also a key factor in the design of the project. The building is equipped with an air/water heat pump system and a type D centralised ventilation system, guaranteeing reduced energy consumption and optimal comfort for its residents.
The strategic location of the accommodation, opposite the train station, offers students exceptional access to public transport and close proximity to the various university campuses and the infrastructure of Mons. This project is part of the City’s plan to revive the neighbourhood of the train station, thereby increasing its appeal and its potential for development. It will also enhance the area, which is in demand for new, high-quality buildings.
Construction works began in September 2023 and were completed in December 2024. With students expected to arrive in the summer of 2025, they will be the first to enjoy these new facilities at the start of the academic year.
A wide range of accommodation: goal of 2000 places
UMONS now offers more than 900 accommodation places spread across its nine halls of residence. The recently inaugurated Cité de la Gare hall of residence is ideally located in the City of Mons and is within walking distance to the various campuses. All these halls of residence are unique and vary in capacity from around fifteen places in the smallest hall to almost 300 places in the largest.
The UMONS halls of residence offer a wide range of accommodation: from double rooms to studios and one-bedroom apartments, with individual or communal bathroom facilities. Several of these accommodation options are equipped to welcome and accommodate people with reduced mobility.
Rent is affordable (starting at around 350 euros) and is good value for money compared to the private rental market.
UMONS aims to pursue its proactive accommodation policy and open new halls of residence in the near future by bidding for contracts with private developers. The aim is to eventually double the current capacity to around 2,000 places. So far, UMONS has already received 1000 new applications for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The development of ‘La Cité de la Gare’ would not have been possible without the involvement of the following partners:
- UMONS
- The City of Mons
- Design Architect: A1AR
- Architect: A&G
- Stability design office: BDS design office
- Special technical and PEB design office: Poly-Tech Engineering
- Acoustic design office: ATS
- Control and safety office: Buresco
- General contractor: Thomas & Piron
