510 Bed New Student Housing

February 18, 2026 Update: 

The university is deeply disappointed to learn that the Province of British Columbia has decided to delay our 510-bed student residence project under the constraints of Budget 2026.  

Scheduled to break ground this Spring, the project was set to create 510 upper-year undergraduate and graduate student spaces. With a new estimated completion date of 2034, the units will play a pivotal role in relieving pressure in Victoria’s rental market, while ensuring more students can live and learn in a supportive campus community. 

 510 bed project rendering

Project Summary 

The development of a new 510 bed residence is a critical step to help meet the growing demand for on-campus student housing at UVic. The new building will be located on a portion of Parking Lot 5, within the heart of the residence precinct, and will support student success, sustainability goals, and campus vitality. 

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What's Proposed:

  • 510 new student beds (150 studio units and 90 quads) 
  • 17-storey high-rise with a 7-storey mid-rise along the Campus Greenway
  • Compact design to preserve green space and minimize site impacts
  • Pedestrian and cycling connections to key campus destinations and the new active transportation facilities on Sinclair Road
  • Enhanced outdoor spaces, seating areas, landscaping and bike racks
  • 128 secure bike-parking stalls for residents 
  • Sustainable building design targeting LEED Gold certification
  • Located within 400m of the UVic Transit Exchange

Project Timeline

Under the constraints of Budget 2026, this project has been delayed with a new completion year of 2034.

We look forward to receiving more information from the Province about this project delay and their long-term plans to address student-housing demands in our region. 

Engagement

Community feedback has highlighted strong support for increasing on-campus housing and prioritizing a compact, sustainable design that preserves green space and supports active transportation. 

UVic has conducted two phases of public engagement to date:

  • Phase 1 (January 2025): UVic shared preliminary planning concepts and collected initial feedback through stakeholders presentations, two Open Houses, and an online survey. Over 350 community members provided input during this phase. Read the Phase 1 What We Heard Report here.  
  • Phase 2 (September - October 2025): UVic provided a project update and collected feedback on the proposed design, including building form, transportation features, and public realm amenities through stakeholders presentations, two Open Houses, and an online survey. Over 450 community members provided input during this phase. Read the Phase 2 What We Heard Report here. 

 

For further information on the project contact Campus Planning and Sustainability at planning@uvic.ca