Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby campus has two new student housing buildings that opened this week.
The new buildings feature 482 single-occupancy rooms, as well as community and learning spaces. Approximately 60 students begin moving into the new buildings this week, said SFU in a news release, in a phased approach that allows for safe distancing under the school’s COVID-19 protocols. Student housing applications are still being accepted for the upcoming fall academic term.
“We know how challenging it can be to find affordable housing in our region, especially for students,” said SFU president Joy Johnson, in a news release. “The completion of this project is an important milestone in expanding our housing options. And we've kept our student needs at the forefront in designing these new, modern spaces, which include all the amenities and supports students need to make the most of living on campus.”
Before students moved in, Gabriel and Angela George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation prepared the buildings for students’ arrival through a traditional ceremony to cleanse and purify the energy within the new buildings.
The new buildings offer close to 50 rooms on each floor, which also houses 15 shared washrooms, laundry, accessible room options and a mix of lounge, community and study spaces. Amenity spaces include community kitchens, wellness, music and activity rooms, multi-faith spaces and a learning commons.
The opening of the project completes the first phase of a housing plan that will add 3,250 beds by 2035. SFU worked with funding partner Centurion Asset Management on the project.
Phase two of the student housing plan is already underway and will include 369 additional rooms and a housing services office, which will centralize services for residents and provide space for residence and housing staff. It is slated to open early 2023, said SFU.
