“The former government neglected student housing, only building 130 beds over 16 years”
CONSTRUCTION is underway on a new 12-storey mass-timber building that will provide 470 students with affordable on-campus housing at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Burnaby campus.
“Building secure, stable and affordable housing is essential for students to be successful at their studies,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, on Friday. “The former government neglected student housing, only building 130 beds over 16 years. Our government is rapidly building new student housing units across B.C., which will help students focus on their classes and lay the foundation for their future. By building over 7,700 student beds in less than six years, we’re helping students save money on rent and travel, while also reducing demand on the local rental housing market.”
The B.C. government is providing $108.5 million toward the $119.7-million development. Once built, this will be the first student housing development at BCIT in 40 years and will more than double the supply of on-campus housing at BCIT. The building will be constructed using mass timber and designed to reflect Indigenous culture in the region, including the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil Waututh Nations. The building will include studio suites, private rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchens, study rooms, common areas and a collaboration space.
“Housing is a top priority for people across B.C. and our government. Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home, and students should feel secure enough to focus more on their studies, and less on finding a place to live,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “That’s the goal of our Homes for People strategy – to close the gap between supply and demand and find creative solutions for the housing concerns facing British Columbians.”
B.C. is a leader in the use of mass timber as an innovative way to reduce the carbon footprint of the building sector, while supporting good-paying jobs for people in communities throughout the province. The use of mass timber means opportunities for local workers in the forestry sector, strong partnerships with First Nations and greater economic opportunity, while also making a significant contribution to advancing CleanBC climate strategy.
This project is part of the Homes for People action plan to build 12,000 new student beds on campuses throughout the province to further ease pressure on the local rental markets. To date, 7,766 student beds are already built or underway, five years ahead of schedule. Budget 2023 includes new student housing investments, adding $575 million over three years.
BCIT’s Tall Timber Student Housing building is estimated to be completed in spring 2025. This project will more than double the supply of on-campus housing at BCIT from the current 329 student beds to 799.
Janet Routledge, MLA for Burnaby North, said: “This is an exciting time for BCIT students in Burnaby. Once the new student housing building is complete, 470 post-secondary students will benefit with a safe, secure and convenient place to live that is just steps away from their classes. It’s also exciting that the building will be constructed with mass timber and will include accessible units, study rooms and a collaboration space.”
Paul McCullough, interim President, BCIT, said: “The Tall Timber Student Housing project is a much-needed addition to the BCIT Burnaby Campus community – allowing more students the opportunity to live on campus while they pursue their hands-on education. Built to meet the highest level of the BC Energy Step Code program and using innovative mass-timber technology, the building is a model for sustainable growth here at the BCIT and across the Lower Mainland.”
Learn More:
To learn about BCIT’s Tall Timber Student Housing developing, visit: https://www.bcit.ca/campus-
BACKGROUNDER
Student housing investments provide homes throughout province
The Province is investing in student housing as part of Homes for People action plan, a housing plan that includes building 12,000 on-campus student housing beds. To date, 7,766 new beds (4,735 Province-funded, 3,031 institution self-funded) are complete or underway, enabling more British Columbians to have affordable housing alternatives to pursue post-secondary education and taking pressure off local rental markets.
Provincially funded projects include:
Interior:
New student housing already open
* 533 beds at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Total project cost is $38 million ($25.5 million provincial funding). Completed 2019
* 220 beds at University of British Columbia Okanagan in Kelowna. Total project cost is $25 million ($18.7 million provincial funding). Opened September 2020.
* 100 beds at the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook. Total project cost is $19 million ($12.9 million provincial funding). Completed December 2020.
New student housing underway
* 376 beds across Okanagan College campuses in Vernon (100 beds), Salmon Arm (60 beds) and Kelowna (216 beds). Total project cost is $74.6 million ($71.5 million provincial funding).
* 150 beds across Selkirk College campuses in Castlegar (114 beds) and Nelson (36 beds). Total project cost is $34.2 million ($32.1 million provincial funding).
* 148 beds at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Total project cost is $19.5 million ($10.9 million provincial funding).
Lower Mainland:
New student housing underway
* 398 beds at University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford. Total project cost is $74.7 million ($63.3 million provincial funding).
* 362 beds at Capilano University in North Vancouver. Total project cost is $58.2 million ($41.5 million provincial funding).
* 470 beds at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Burnaby. Total project cost is $119.7 million ($108.5 million provincial funding).
* 386 beds at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. Total project cost is $111.6 million ($73 million provincial funding).
* 368 beds and an academic space at Douglas College in New Westminster. Total project cost is $292.5 million (government contribution of $202.3 million; $74.0 million in provincial funding for the academic part of the project and $128.3 million for the student housing from the BC Student Housing Program).
Northern B.C.:
New student housing already open
* 108 beds at Coast Mountain College in Terrace. Total project cost is $21.6 million ($20.6 million provincial funding). Opened October 2021.
* 12 beds at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George. Total project cost is $5.3 million, fully funded by the province. Opened September 2021.
Vancouver Island:
New student housing already open
* The first 398-bed building with dining facilities opened September 2022 at the University of Victoria. The second 385-bed building is under construction and is scheduled to open in September 2023, for a total of 783 new beds (621 net new and 162 replacement beds). Total project cost is $230.8 million ($127.9 million provincial funding).
New student housing underway
* 217 beds at North Island College. Total project cost is $77.9 million ($75.9 million provincial funding).
* 266 new student housing beds at Vancouver Island University. Total project cost is $87.8 million ($87 million provincial funding).
