Inauguration of the new Maria Oliveras Hall of Residence, a key facility for the UB Bellvitge Campus

The dorm has been named after Maria Oliveras in recognition of her being the first anaesthesiologist in Catalonia, a gesture that moved her family, who were present at the inauguration. The 7,296 square metre facility consists of a basement, ground floor and eight floors, and has 197 rooms and capacity for 211 people. It has services to guarantee the wellbeing and comfort of students, such as a cafeteria, live cooking area, gymnasium, study rooms and various leisure areas. 

During the ceremony, the rector of the UB, Joan Guàrdia, pointed out that this project “is an exemplary model of collaboration between institutions, of joint work and shared purpose”. “We are absolutely convinced — he said — that this project in which the Bellvitge Campus is part, is one of the most important we have in terms of research, teaching and healthcare, forming a virtuous triangle together with the Hospital Clínic and the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu”. 

For his part, the mayor of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, David Quirós, stressed that the new residence hall “is more than a building: it is a space for coexistence, study and community, key for students and for families who need accommodation near the Bellvitge University Hospital”. Quirós also stressed that the new facility “is another piece in the consolidation of the Bellvitge Innovation and Health Biocluster as a true ecosystem of knowledge and innovation in health”, and expressed “pride in seeing how this space contributes to attracting and retaining talent”. 

The building’s architect, Albert Blanch, described the facility as “a modern, austere and functional building, which aims to offer the best living conditions to the people who will reside there”. 

Finally, Paul Winters, CEO of Equitix, said that the inauguration of this residence is a milestone towards achieving the goal of providing modern and sustainable university accommodation. 

The residence hall is ready to receive guests. In fact, this afternoon, Friday 24 October, the first users will move in, preferably students from the Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences and Nursing, both located on the Bellvitge Campus. However, members of the rest of the university community and relatives of long-term patients at the Bellvitge Hospital and the Hospital Duran i Reynals can also be accommodated. 

The cost of the residence hall, which will operate under an administrative concession, amounted to 15 million euros, an amount that has been contributed in its entirety by the company holding the concession for the service, Residència Universitària Bellvitge SL. The construction of the facility was carried out by Arcadi Pla, SA, and BCA was in charge of the project management. 

The UB Bellvitge Campus, a powerful academic, research and healthcare hub 

In the 2024-2025 academic year, 3,077 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students (81% women) studied at the Bellvitge Campus. It offers the bachelor’s degrees in Biomedical Sciences, Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Podiatry, and six master’s degrees (Biomedicine; Podiatric Surgery; Advanced Medical Skills; Advanced Nursing Clinical Practice; Nursing Leadership and Healthcare Management, and Applied Research Methodology in Nursing Care), in addition to 88 UB-specific postgraduate studies and three doctoral programmes (Biomedicine, Nursing and Healthcare, and Medicine and Translational Research). Regarding the research and teaching staff (PDI) and the Technical, Management, and Administrative and Service Staff (PTGAS), the Campus has 974 and 107 members, respectively. 

The inauguration of the hall of residence is a significant step forward in a major project such as the Innovation and Health Biocluster. This project will culminate with the redevelopment of the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes in this area, works that will make it possible to create a friendlier and more ambitious space where leading institutions in the fields of research, healthcare and academia come together: the University of Barcelona, the Bellvitge University Hospital, the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL). These institutions make up a leading and strategic ecosystem for the Barcelona metropolitan area and for the country as a whole.