Community notices
Student housing options expand at SFU’s Burnaby campus with the opening of two new buildings
Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby campus is about to become a more lively place with the opening of two new student housing buildings this week.
The new buildings feature 482 single-occupancy rooms, as well as community and learning spaces, that will give more students an opportunity to grow, develop and enjoy life on campus.
“When I first saw the new residences, I was blown away,” says Meagan Bradbury, a fourth year biology major student moving into the residences this week. “I served as a community advisor on the project and feel SFU really took students’ input to heart. I have all the privacy and comfort I need to make the unit my own, along with all the other student supports in place.”
Approximately 60 students begin moving into the new buildings this week, in a phased approach that allows for safe distancing under SFU’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,” says SFU President Joy Johnson. “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.
“This is a very special day for Simon Fraser University students and everyone who has been involved in the important work of increasing on-campus student housing,” says Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training. “We are well on the way to adding about 8,000 new student housing units throughout the province, and we are thrilled to be working with SFU towards that larger goal.”
Exterior view of both residence halls
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.
“These additional spaces at Simon Fraser University will ensure more students can focus on their learning, while building meaningful social connections,” says Katrina Chen, MLA for Burnaby-Lougheed. “The broader community will benefit as well, as these new student homes will help alleviate housing pressures in one of the country’s most competitive rental markets.”
The opening of the project completes the first phase of a housing plan that will see student housing options at Burnaby campus expand to 3,250 beds by 2035. SFU worked with funding partner Centurion Asset Management to make this project a reality.
“We are extremely excited to be a part of the new on-campus student housing opportunity for Simon Fraser university students,” says Greg Romundt, President & CEO Centurion Asset Management. “We understand all the work, planning and execution that goes into providing safe, inclusive and an elevated student housing experience. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with Simon Fraser University on this development.”
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.
“We’re so excited to see the campus continue to evolve to support future generations of SFU students,” says Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley. “SFU is an integral part of our community. I look forward to touring the new facilities really soon.”
For more information about student housing at SFU, visit https://www.sfu.ca/students/residences.html
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