Location Athens, Greece
Client University of Nicosia (UNIC)
Services Project Management
Project Value Confidential
UNIC is the largest and oldest private university in Cyprus and one of the highest-rated institutions in Cyprus and Greece for research quality. The university undertook the Athens Campus Phase I project to deliver an academic and research campus next to the new Ellinikon district in Athens. UNIC’s first development in Greece, the multi-million-euro project comprised the conversion of an existing four-story building into a state-of-the-art academic and research facility with a total built-up area of approximately 12,500 SM.
The new facility features 14 classrooms, two amphitheaters, 10 problem-based learning rooms, and 43 specialized teaching and research laboratories. It also features a library, cafeteria, administrative offices, faculty areas, and auxiliary spaces to support daily academic operations. Landscaped outdoor areas and on-site parking contribute to student, staff, and faculty convenience and comfort. With a variety of sustainability features, the building achieved LEED Gold certification. Although the permit was issued in February 2025, the project concluded in time for the 2025 fall semester.
At the Athens Campus, UNIC offers degrees in a variety of fields, including medicine, pharmacy, business administration, law, and psychology. Notably, UNIC’s project established the first non-state medical school in Greece. Implemented in partnership with the Hellenic Healthcare Group, the project delivered simulation spaces to integrate academic excellence with clinical practice.
Two additional project phases will expand the campus to approximately 90,000 SM, including sites within the Ellinikon and connected to its transportation networks. Expansion will allow UNIC to offer additional programs and welcome more students each year. As UNIC has enrolled more Greek students than any other non-Greek university, the project reinforces historic ties between the institution and the country. It also strengthens UNIC’s regional presence and reputation and creates a unique educational environment within the Ellinikon.
Hill International provided project management consultancy services throughout the project’s life cycle. Our responsibilities included design coordination, permitting, procurement support, fit-out management, and overall supervision of construction activities. The Hill team also collaborated with UNIC’s stakeholders, local authorities, and design consultants to help ensure full compliance with owner expectations, national regulations, and European Union standards. Additionally, we oversaw the implementation of high-performance design solutions to achieve energy efficiency and the target LEED Gold certification.
