Construction is in full swing on Vancouver Island University's new 10-storey student housing building, set for completion by 2027. Located at the 900 Fifth St. campus, this project will add 266 student beds, with shared lounges, washrooms, and kitchens on every residential floor. The development will also feature a 200-seat dining hall, study spaces, a multi-purpose room, bike storage, shared laundry, and office space for staff. Seven of the units will be fully accessible.
Backed by up to $103 million in provincial funding, the building is being constructed to meet Step 4 of the B.C. Energy Step Code and align with Clean B.C.'s energy-efficiency goals. This aligns with the government's broader push to cut emissions by 40% by 2030.
Anne Kang, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, emphasized the growing need for secure, affordable student housing, stating that the expansion at VIU Nanaimo will help more students live on campus and get the most out of their post-secondary experience. The project is part of the province’s larger commitment to delivering 12,000 student housing units, with over 10,760 already completed or in progress.
A key sustainability feature of the project is its connection to VIU’s geo-exchange system, which uses water from an old coal mine under the campus to provide heating and cooling. The new building will tie into an expanded system, cutting emissions and aiming to bring heating and cooling output across multiple buildings close to net zero. Future-proofing is also in place, with the infrastructure designed to potentially connect other student housing buildings down the line.
In short—VIU’s stepping up with a modern, sustainable solution to tackle student housing demand while keeping environmental impact in check.
