B.C. announces $178M student housing project for UVic

Key Takeaways:

• The University of Victoria will add more than 500 new on-campus beds for upper-year and graduate students, with construction set to begin in spring 2026.
• The $178 million project, jointly funded by the province and UVic, aims to ease pressure on Victoria’s rental market while offering sustainable, zero-carbon housing.
• The expansion supports student success by improving access to on-campus housing, services, and community connections.

The Whole Story:

The provincial government has approved more than 500 new student beds at the University of Victoria, targeting upper-year undergraduates and graduate students, to help address housing shortages and ease pressure on the local rental market.

Bowinn Ma, B.C.’s Minister of Infrastructure, said the funding will allow more students to “learn closer to home” while helping communities by reducing demand for off-campus rentals.

The planned residence will feature a high-rise tower with 360 beds in 90 four-bedroom apartment-style units for upper-year undergraduates, alongside a seven-storey wing with 150 studio units for graduate students. Amenities will include a student lounge, multipurpose spaces, outdoor areas, and a community kitchen, along with secured storage for athletic gear and bicycles.

Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, stressed that on-campus housing is crucial to student success: “Access to safe and secure on-campus housing means students are closer to services and can spend more time focusing on their studies,” she said.

The new residence is designed to be fully electric and zero-carbon, aiming for LEED Gold certification in line with UVic’s and British Columbia’s climate goals under CleanBC.

Robina Thomas, acting president and vice-chancellor of UVic, called the development “transformative,” particularly for students who currently struggle to find affordable housing near campus. She added that connecting students more closely with peers, academic and wellness supports “allows them to help focus on what matters, their education.”

The total capital cost is estimated at $178 million, with $121 million coming from the province and $57 million from UVic. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026.

Since 2018, B.C. has committed $2 billion to on-campus housing across post-secondary institutions. So far, nearly 6,900 beds have been built, with another 4,800 underway.

MLAs representing Victoria and surrounding areas highlighted the broader community benefits. Diana Gibson (Oak Bay-Gordon Head) said stable on-campus housing will “help reduce the pressure on housing near the university” for local families, while Grace Lore (Victoria-Beacon Hill) called the project “a meaningful investment in education and in our community.” Nina Krieger (Victoria-Swan Lake) added that the expansion is “a win for our entire community” as it helps students live where they learn and eases demand on the tight Victoria rental market.

Rosemary Webb, chair of the UVic Graduate Student Society and a PhD student in linguistics, said having dedicated graduate and upper-level undergraduate housing “will be highly impactful” for students who currently live far from campus and miss out on the student experience. “When students live on campus, they get to spend more time engaging with UVic services … and building community,” she said.