Ontario Construction News staff writer
The University of Guelph is planning to significantly expand its student housing facilities, aiming to add more than 4,000 new beds across three sites by 2035. The expansion, which includes the redevelopment of two University-owned properties, is part of a strategy to meet the growing demand for student accommodations.
A Request for Expressions of Interest has been issued to solicit feedback from the development community on goals for both sites and to gauge interest in partnering to potentially design, build, finance, maintain and operate these student housing projects.
The two projects are also subject to governance approvals and U of G will be engaging with its community and key external stakeholders throughout the development process.
Wellington Woods is currently part of U of G’s student housing inventory with 138 townhouse units for students with families across nearly 13 acres of land. The site is located within an intensification corridor as defined by the City of Guelph Official Plan and is well-positioned to accommodate an expansion of housing units.
Early plans for the site call for a gradual, multi-phase build across four development blocks, prioritizing housing continuity for tenants and mitigating construction impacts. The site will eventually be home to more than 2,200 beds in diverse housing types, from studios that would be best suited for upper-year undergraduate and graduate students to townhomes best suited for students with families.
U of G is also looking to create a new residence geared towards graduate and upper-year undergraduate students at the west side of the Gordon St. and College Ave. W intersection. The conceptual design proposes an eight-storey building with capacity for approximately 280 beds along with retail space, a lecture hall and student study space.
The new developments are in addition to the recently announced first-year student residence to be located at College Ave. W and McGilvray St.
“We are embarking on an exciting journey to create thousands of new student housing beds over the next decade,” said Sharmilla Rasheed, vice-president (finance and operations) at the University of Guelph. “We recognize that housing availability and affordability are key to students’ academic success, and we are committed to offering a wide range of housing options to meet their diverse needs.”