In March 2005 the conversion of the former Philips office premises into a student complex came up for discussion first. Although the premises are still there five years later, a design for an entirely new building is ready. According to Harald Evers, District Manager at Woonbedrijf (the parent company of Vestide), there is no way to convert the premises profitably since a conversion would result in fewer units to be realized than in the new building. Last week the design was submitted to the Spatial Quality Committee (CRK) and Evers has every confidence in obtaining a positive decision from the CRK. He does not regard allegations by the Eindhovens Dagblad that the Committee did have some criticism of the design as a problem. “We have duly complied with all municipal criteria, so I expect that we will be granted planning permission this autumn and in that case we can start on the project in 2011. The end of 2012 should see the completion of 275 residential units.”

By contrast, the conversion of office premises at Boschdijk was feasible. For Vestide it was the first time that it carried out such an operation. “We have learnt a great deal from this”, says Evers. He shows the two last independent units for which tenants have also been found this month. The inhabitants are all of foreign descent and work at TU/e as PhD candidates or as staff members. The prices of the furnished residential units are from 470 to 825 euros. “That includes the service charges and the connection to the Internet”, Evers adds. According to the District Manager several inhabitants of the space boxes in the TU/e grounds have also moved to the new complex.

There is not much he can tell us about the building plans for permanent housing in the TU/e grounds. “We will be closely involved in this enterprise in the future. Still, I cannot say anything for now about the question whether Potentiaal (the building that houses Electrical Engineering, red.) can be properly converted for residential purposes, for example.” HK)/.