NEWS

Bucharest Builds New Energy at Its Campus Hub

At the Bucharest demo site, the sound of drills and laughter mingle in the air — the kind of music that signals progress. After months of preparation, the long-awaited renovation of the student canteen is underway, turning a once-grey space into the heart of a campus-wide revival.

“It’s a bit chaotic right now,” the team admits with a smile, “but it’s a good kind of chaos.” Beneath the dust, the work reveals a deeper transformation — one that blends architecture, art, and energy innovation.

As part of the project, Bucharest has begun implementing its Energy Shared Center (ESC) while coordinating with ongoing district heating upgrades. By syncing efforts, the team avoids duplicating work — “killing two birds with one stone,” as they say — and makes energy sharing part of the building’s new DNA.

Around the canteen, creativity is blooming. Through collaborations with UrbanWISE and Campus Verde, students competed to redesign the surrounding spaces, proposing new green ideas for the canteen courtyard. The winning visions are being refined into technical plans, ensuring the next generation’s ideas leave a permanent mark.

Meanwhile, two vibrant murals now bring color and character to the campus walls — artistic testaments to the commitment to community and culture. “They make people stop and smile,” said one organiser. “That’s how regeneration begins — when people start to care about a place again.”

Digital progress matches the physical. The team has nearly completed its CityGML 3D model of the demo area, offering a detailed digital twin that will support future design and energy decisions.

In Bucharest, the WeGenerate project isn’t just renovating a canteen — it is nourishing the spirit of collaboration, creativity, and shared energy that fuels urban renewal.