While housing remains a challenge for students across the country, support from the BC Government will help the University of Victoria (UVic) realize its vision for a new, dedicated residence for upper-year undergraduate and graduate students.
Architectural rendering of the proposed residence building. Credit: DSAI
"The new student residence will be transformative for our upper-year undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom face challenges finding affordable housing near campus," says Dr. Robina Thomas, acting president and vice-chancellor. "The new units will also play a pivotal role in relieving pressure in Victoria's rental market, while ensuring more students can live and learn in a supportive community."
Once complete, the 510-bed residence building, with a proposed location behind the Tower Residence, will have a high-rise wing with 360 beds (90 quad units) for upper-year undergraduates, and a mid-rise wing with 150 studio apartments for graduate students. This will bring the university's total student-residence capacity to more than 3,500.
"The addition of dedicated graduate and upper-level undergraduate housing on campus will be highly impactful for our students, many of whom currently live quite far from UVic and miss out on a lot of the student experience," says Rosemary Webb, chair of the Graduate Students' Society and a PhD student in Linguistics at UVic. "When students live on campus, they get to spend more time engaging with UVic services and resources, developing their research and studies, and building community with each other, which ultimately brings so much vivacity to the university."
The proposed location of the new building, behind the Tower Residence.
The proposed high- and mid-rise buildings reflect UVic's commitment to building up rather than out. By concentrating housing within a compact footprint, the project will maximize the number of student beds, while minimizing impacts on surrounding green space. This approach supports the Campus Plan's vision for a sustainable, walkable campus and helps preserve valued natural areas by avoiding unnecessary site expansion.
The estimated capital cost of the project is $178 million, with $121 million coming from the Province. Construction is expected to start in Spring 2026, with estimated completion in Fall 2029.
"This investment from the Province is a crucial step in making post-secondary education more accessible and sustainable for our students," says Thomas. "Living on campus gives students better access to academic and wellness supports and strengthens their connections to peers, which allows them to help focus on what matters their education."
UVic has held two phases of community consultations to date, sharing information and receiving input from neighbours and other interest-holders that will help shape the project. A final phase of engagement is anticipated in early Spring 2026 to share the design and provide updated information on the construction process.
This project marks a major step in UVic's climate leadership. By delivering a fully electric, zero-carbon building designed to achieve LEED® Gold, it aligns with CleanBC and UVic's Climate and Sustainability Action Plan. The building will stand as a model of climate-resilient design and a tangible commitment to a net-zero future.
