EBRD Supports Development of Green-Certified, Earthquake-Resilient Student Dormitory at Özyeğin University in Istanbul

EBRD Supports Development of Green-Certified, Earthquake-Resilient Student Dormitory at Özyeğin University in Istanbul

(IN BRIEF) EBRD is providing a US$ 20 million loan to Özyeğin University to finance the construction of a green-certified, earthquake-resilient student dormitory on the university’s Çekmeköy campus in Istanbul. The project aims to address the city’s growing shortage of safe and affordable housing for students, as Istanbul hosts around 908,000 undergraduate students while existing dormitory capacity meets less than 20 percent of demand. The new facility will accommodate approximately 500 students, including 120 studio rooms, offering a modern and supportive living environment while helping reduce reliance on expensive private rentals or long commuting distances. Designed with improved energy efficiency and structural resilience, the building is expected to achieve an EDGE “Standard” certification. The initiative reflects EBRD’s broader investment strategy in Türkiye, where the Bank has committed more than €23 billion to projects supporting economic development and infrastructure since 2009.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 6-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — EBRD is supporting the development of new student housing in Istanbul through a US$ 20 million loan to Özyeğin University for the construction of a green-certified, earthquake-resilient dormitory on its Çekmeköy campus. The project aims to address the growing shortage of safe and affordable accommodation for students in Türkiye’s largest city.

Özyeğin University, a non-profit and state-recognised higher education institution based in Istanbul, offers 71 degree programmes through seven faculties and three graduate institutes and currently serves more than 8,000 students. The new dormitory project will expand the university’s on-campus housing capacity at a time when demand for student accommodation across the city significantly exceeds supply.

Istanbul hosts the largest student population in Türkiye, with approximately 908,000 undergraduate students studying in the city. Despite this large number, the total dormitory capacity is estimated at about 161,000 beds, which meets less than one fifth of overall demand.

Students in the city are increasingly facing difficulties in securing suitable housing. Rising rental costs, ageing residential buildings and limited capacity in both public and private dormitories have made it challenging for many students to find safe and affordable accommodation. As a result, some are forced to accept long commuting distances or live in buildings that lack adequate earthquake resilience.

The new dormitory planned at Özyeğin University’s Çekmeköy campus will help ease this pressure by providing housing for approximately 500 students. The facility will include around 120 studio rooms and will be designed to offer a secure, modern and academically supportive living environment. The university intends to provide the accommodation at rates comparable to those in the private rental market, helping students who might otherwise face high housing costs or long daily travel times.

Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the EBRD, highlighted the importance of improving access to quality housing for students. She noted that providing safe, affordable and high-quality accommodation plays a critical role in supporting the development of future talent in Türkiye. She added that the partnership with Özyeğin University reflects the EBRD’s continued commitment to supporting opportunities for young people and strengthening educational infrastructure across the country.

Prof. Barış Tan, President of Özyeğin University, emphasised that sustainability remains a core principle guiding the university’s campus development strategy. He noted that the Çekmeköy campus already reflects this commitment through energy-efficient buildings developed in line with international green building standards. The new dormitory project, developed in cooperation with the EBRD, forms an important part of this broader vision. According to Tan, the project aims to create a safe, sustainable living environment for students while reinforcing the university’s long-term focus on quality infrastructure and resilience.

The project has also been designed with modern energy-efficiency and structural resilience standards in mind. The building will incorporate improvements in performance compared with conventional construction practices and is expected to achieve an EDGE “Standard” certification once construction is completed.

The EBRD remains one of Türkiye’s most significant international investors. Since beginning operations in the country in 2009, the Bank has committed more than €23 billion through approximately 500 projects and trade finance initiatives, with the majority of investments directed toward the private sector.

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SOURCE: EBRD