St. John’s College, an international graduate residence, is looking to expand its facilities and capacity with a new redevelopment proposal.
On April 25, UBC Properties Trust announced its application for a permit to overhaul the current college alongside phase 1 of a plan that will add 1,338 beds spread out between 6 mid-and-high rise buildings for a total of 1,513 beds — up from the current 175.
“[The project] is a new student residence development in response to UBCs Housing Action Plan,” said in an interview with The Ubyssey Principal Architect Adam James of Ryder Architecture, referring to the University’s official strategy to increase rental housing supply while ensuring affordability first adopted in 2012.
The project is one of many anticipated as part of Campus Vision 2050 UBCs long-term plan for the development of the Vancouver campus, approved by the Board in December 2023.
First announced in 2024 with a total cost of $559.9 million, the project will receive $300 million from the provincial government in their largest contribution to a single UBC project. The university will pay for remaining expenses.
According to James, many key design choices in the project were made in “response to [the] demands” of current graduate students and alumni following an engagement period in January.
He listed the high proportion of single rooms with double beds as being included following this initial consultation.
Other amenities include a 250-seat dining hall, a 37-spot childcare centre and office space. The expansion of St. John’s College will also be emphasized, with 400 of the 1,500 beds being dedicated to the college, as well as the expanded dining hall anchoring the college’s mission to having “the world around the table.”
Despite the high density of the project, James hopes that an emphasis on landscaping and street level design will activate a sense of community with the surrounding campus and nature.
“It is obviously bringing a level of density which is in response to [UBCs Housing Action Plan] but we can't have a very domineering building” said James.
According to James, the towers surround a central courtyard which “brings the forest in”, with large gaps between the buildings letting in sunlight and creating open access points to the site.
The design also incorporates the UBC's old Fire Hall after it was moved from its original location to make way for an expansion of the Sauder School of Business.
“Because it's a heritage building, it immediately creates a sense of place and presence, and connects back to the prior history of UBC,” said James.
Under the current plan, the space will be used for a variety of purposes such as discussions, film screenings and fitness events.
The public engagement phase ended on May 28 and the proposal will be submitted to the UBC Board of Governors for final approval at their September meeting. Until then, the design team will continue testing the feasibility of the design to present to the board.
The permit application announcement states that it anticipates construction on Phase 1 to begin in January 2026 and be completed in 2028. Phase 2, whose plan has yet to be announced, is forecasted to conclude in 2029.
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