€47 million sustainable living complex to transform university into ‘living laboratory’

Prime Minister Robert Abela visited the ongoing works on the Sustainable Living Complex project at the University of Malta, the Office of the Prime Minister said in a statement. This project is being implemented with a total investment of €47 million, supported by European co-financing.

Spanning a total area of 27,000 square metres, the project is a major academic research centre designed as a testing ground for sustainable and efficient technologies.

The complex comprises four main buildings that will house two faculties – the Faculty for the Built Environment and the Faculty of Education – along with their associated institutes and centres.

Professor Alex Torpiano, who is leading the project, explained that the buildings will include space for lectures and laboratories. Additionally, the underground level will house further laboratories and state-of-the-art facilities, such as a flight simulator, seismic simulation equipment, and a wave tank.

Abela commended the project and the concept behind it. “This project goes beyond energy efficiency; it also focuses on the efficient use of water, waste, and other resources. We can call this project a living laboratory,” said Abela.

He also noted with satisfaction that the buildings in this complex will feature monitoring systems to track energy generation and consumption, air quality, water usage, and recycling.

“The government cannot fail to commend and support this project at the University of Malta, which perfectly reflects the meaning of sustainability. Furthermore, I am pleased to note that once this campus becomes operational, it will serve as a testing ground for various technologies that are vital for the present and especially for the future in the face of global challenges such as climate change,” Abela said.

The complex will host testing for systems such as photovoltaics and solar panels, heat pumps, and greywater recovery – that is, water originating from sources like showers, sinks, and washing machines.

The Prime Minister concluded by praising this project, which will make a crucial difference on two fronts. “Firstly, it will create a quality learning experience, and secondly, it will help the country continue to identify and invest in more efficient solutions that adapt to global and national realities, while also ensuring a better quality of life for Maltese and Gozitan families.”

The Prime Minister was accompanied on this visit by, among others, the Minister for Education and Sport Byron Camilleri; the Minister for European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection Keith Azzopardi Tanti; the University Rector Professor Frank Bezzina; and the Pro-Rector Professor Vincent Cassar.

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