Nido Living enters Italian market with acquisition of landmark Unionezero student housing development in Milan
Nido Living enters Italy with the acquisition of 600+ student beds at Unionezero in Milan’s Sesto San Giovanni district. The forward purchase with Hines and Prelios marks a key step in Nido’s European growth strategy. The landmark scheme targets LEED Gold, A1 energy rating, and will complete in 2027 with extensive amenities.
26 September 2025 • 1 min read
Nido Living enters Italian market with acquisition of landmark Unionezero student housing development in Milan
- Forward purchase of more than 600 high-quality student beds in Milan’s Sesto San Giovanni district marks Nido’s launch in Italy and reinforces its long-term growth strategy in one of Europe’s most undersupplied PBSA markets.
- Strategic agreement with Hines and Prelios, demonstrates Nido’s ability to embed operational expertise from the outset.
- Development targets LEED Gold certification and A1 energy rating, enhancing Nido’s ESG credentials in Europe’s most undersupplied PBSA market.
Nido Living, the award-winning European student accommodation platform backed by CPP Investments, has acquired a 600+ bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development within Unionezero in Milan, through a forward purchase agreement with a fund managed by Prelios SGR and backed by Hines as developer and co-investor.
The 18-storey scheme, located in the fast-growing Sesto San Giovanni district, will deliver a landmark residential tower with extensive communal amenities including study areas, a gym, a cinema, a gaming lounge, bike storage, and landscaped roof terraces. Completion is scheduled for mid-2027.
The development is designed to meet the highest sustainability standards, targeting LEED Gold certification and Italian A1 energy ratings. Key features include energy-efficient building systems, green roof integration, solar panels, geo-thermal heat pumps, and water-saving infrastructure.
Carlo Matta, CEO of Nido Living, said:
“Milan is one of Europe’s most dynamic university cities, yet it remains structurally undersupplied in student accommodation. At the same time, Italy has been highly successful in attracting international talent to its universities, reinforcing the strength of demand.
Unionezero is a flagship development that reflects the scale of our ambition and the quality we bring to the market. With strong backing from global institutional capital, this acquisition marks the launch of our platform in Italy and underscores our confidence in the long-term demand for PBSA across the country.”
Giuseppe Zafferri, Head of Italy at Nido Living, added:
“Unionezero is not only a best-in-class PBSA project, but also part of a wider urban regeneration that will transform Sesto San Giovanni into a thriving new district of Milan. This acquisition marks a significant step in Nido’s Italian expansion strategy, supported by close to €1 billion of committed investment. Forward purchasing allows us to apply our operational expertise at the earliest stage of development.”
This acquisition marks a significant step in Nido’s Italian expansion strategy, which targets close to €1 billion of investment in the PBSA market over the next six years. Nido expects to announce further accretive acquisitions in Italy in the coming weeks, reinforcing its commitment to scale in one of Europe’s most undersupplied student housing markets.
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