510 Bed New Student Housing

UVic is the final design stage to deliver 510 new beds of new student housing for upper-year and graduate students. This project is supported by the Province of B.C., with $121M in funding support from the BC Government. The project supports UVic’s goals for housing affordability, student success, and climate action. 

 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

This project is in the final design and municipal approvals phase. The project aims to start construction in May 2026, with occupancy targeted for September 2029.  

 shetimeline

 

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. 
  • Phase 3 (Coming Soon - Spring 2026): Prior to the start of construction in Spring 2026, UVic will have a final phase of community engagement to share the final design and construction impacts. 

 

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