Help shape the plans for new student housing and dining

Plans are beginning to take shape for new student housing that will provide much-needed accommodation and a dining hall for more than 600 UVic students who would otherwise live off campus.

All faculty, staff and students are invited to learn more about the project and share your ideas on preliminary building design, landscaping, sustainability principles and outdoor areas at an open house on Wednesday, June 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the McPherson Library.

“Over the past year, we’ve been working closely with the neighbouring and on-campus communities to inform the planning principles for these new buildings,” says Mike Wilson, director of campus planning and sustainability. “We’re now in the design phase, with a team of architects working to ensure the building designs meet the needs of students and that new and rejuvenated outdoor areas provide a welcoming environment for the broader campus community.”

The UVic Board of Governors approved funding for the project in late March.

The two new buildings will feature a modernized 600-seat dining hall as well as conference and meeting rooms on the ground levels. The inclusion of academic space is also under consideration.

South of the Student Union Building and west of Tower Residence, the new project will create vibrancy and animation within the current housing precinct and along Ring Road. The “Grand Promenade” will be extended to encourage walking and cycling between the new buildings and the rest of campus.

The new housing will feature a variety of room types, including "pod"-style room clusters—which share kitchen, washroom, living and dining areas—as well as traditional single dorm rooms.

To protect green space and accommodate more students living on campus, the new buildings will be the tallest on campus. The project team is currently developing a sustainability strategy for the buildings, not only to achieve UVic’s operational goals but also to ensure that students have opportunities to engage with issues, principles and practices that support social and environmental sustainability.

Construction is targeted to begin in summer 2020, and will take place in phases over four academic years. Two existing residence buildings, Margaret Newton Hall and Emily Carr Residence, as well as the Cadboro Commons Building will be deconstructed during the project.

The student housing project is the first significant capital project since UVic’s Campus Plan was renewed in 2016. Following community consultation this spring, a Development Variance Application will be submitted to the District of Saanich in fall 2018.

For more information, contact Mike Wilson, director of campus planning and sustainability at 250-472-5433 or ocpsdir@uvic.ca. Public engagement opportunities and updates are available on the project website.