UNIVERSITY OF THE FRASER VALLEY
UFV students develop plan for former Abbotsford hospital site

The people who will be planning the cities of tomorrow are learning the craft today (Jan 30) at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), and three students recently schemed up a new look for a large chunk of real estate in Abbotsford. 

The former hospital site on McCallum Road is currently little more than dirt and geese, surrounded by blue steel fencing. As part of UFV's Regional & Community Planning degree program, Rza Sandhu, Jasleen Deol, and Jeevani Harry developed a comprehensive plan for the site featuring three mid-rise (four- to six-storey) apartment buildings with amenities and green spaces, and full accessibility to transit. 

Left to right: Rza Sandhu, Jeevani Harry, and Jasleen Deol developed a comprehensive plan for the site where Abbotsford Regional Hospital once stood.

Jasleen and her siblings were born at the old MSA Hospital, and she's been sad to see the site left empty for years.  

"I pass that area on my way to UFV and being able to suggest ideas for developing it is really cool and interesting," she says. 

The project gave the students an immersive experience in planning a project in a real-life setting, which will be extremely beneficial when they launch careers in the planning sector. 

The project, done for the Planning for Housing: Affordability, Design, and Policy course (PLAN 300)  taught by Michael von Hausen, challenged the students to think and act like city planners. They had to adhere to city bylaws and closely consider how their work would fit into the surrounding area. Rza says it was an eye-opening experience combing through City of Abbotsford policy, and meeting with a bylaw officer to learn about what they could and couldn't do.  

The UFV students had accessibility to transit and green spaces top of mind as they worked through their project.

"We had our design concept, and we'd love to do whatever we want, but we had to make sure it was actually allowed on that plot of land," she says. "I really like policy, and I found that part to be a lot of fun. It was a lot of reading and thinking, but it was interesting." 

As the students mapped out their vision, climate resiliency, sustainability, and adaptability were emphasized.  

"We wanted to take a green approach, and integrate green spaces in a unique way," Jeevani says. "We've been studying how to make green infrastructure more accessible to people. I feel like every piece of green infrastructure that's ever been accessible to me has been a park or a little green space, and I feel our approach is a little more interesting." 

The students' project includes a raised green-roof courtyard, a bike lane and multi-use path, and integrates solar panels, heat pumps, and eco-friendly permeable paving. 

It was also important, Rza says, to recognize Stó:lo and Matsqui First Nations in an authentic way. They've included many elements including Indigenous-designed art, and bilingual signage with Halq'eméylem pronunciation guidance. Their landscape strategy features cedar, salmonberry, and medicinal plants. 

"We saw ways to reflect Indigenous values around stewardship and connection to the land," Rza notes.  

The students visited the site and took photos to help them visualize their work. Jasleen says they took inspiration not only from the site itself, but what's around the site. They also went to an open house for a townhouse development being built next to the lot. 

"Being there helps you understand what makes sense and what doesn't," she says. "The site visit reinforced our belief in green space, because there was a total lack of it in the surrounding area." 

From start to finish, they had three weeks to get everything done, culminating in a late-night session at Jasleen's home that saw the students working until 4 am. 

They left that night having produced a very detailed, and thoughtful project that they're all proud of.  

"We put in a lot of work, and we were all super excited about the outcome," Jasleen says. "From the day we started, we had so many ideas clicking, and it was great seeing everything in a finished form. It was tiring and stressful at times, but it was also a lot of fun and a great experience."