$13.2-M Student housing expansion at Malaspina

Malaspina University-College is embarking on a $13.2-million project to expand student housing at the Nanaimo campus.

The project will see 200 new student residence spaces added, bringing the total number to 386 when completed.  The plan also includes renovations to the existing 186 units that have been operating on campus since the mid 1980s.

Windley Construction Ltd., of Nanaimo, has been awarded the contract to build the residences.  Work will start in the coming weeks with completion slated for July 2005.

“This is an exciting undertaking because it’s entirely self-financed and in keeping with the public/private venture model encouraged by government,” said Malaspina Board chair Jane Gregory.

Malaspina president Rich Johnston said that government has given the Board the required permission to negotiate a 25-year private mortgage, which will be repayable through rent of the units.

“This is another self-funded project that doesn’t involve a penny of government and taxpayers money,” Johnston said.

“Last year we constructed a $4.2-million Centre for International Education that was entirely financed through net revenues from international education activities.  Our $14.1-million Library expansion that is currently underway only includes $4.7-million of funding from the Ministry of Advanced Education with the remainder financed from a variety of sources, including fundraising,” he said.

The student residences will feature both four-bedroom apartments and 20-bed units clustered in a village-like setting.  The units will vary in size and be connected through breezeways and walkways.  All units will feature individual private bedrooms, and shared kitchen, bathrooms, dining room, and living/learning spaces.

“Student residences play an integral role in new concepts of living and learning, especially for mature students,” said Edwin Deas, Malaspina’s vice-president of administration & bursar.

“Small groups of students living, studying and learning together in custom-designed communal spaces conducive to such pursuits are the characteristics of contemporary student residences on many North American university campuses.”

Deas said that he is encouraging private developers to build affordable housing downtown and near the campus for students who don’t wish to live on site.

“Our ever expanding domestic and international student population provides many opportunities for private developers.  We’ll also continue to encourage our new international students to live with local families through our popular homestay programs,” he said.

A second phase expansion is planned for 2006 that will see a further 200 beds added to the student residences.

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Backgrounder

Cost:  $13.2-million

Contractor:  Windley Construction Ltd, of Nanaimo

Specs:  55,000 square feet, 200 beds in total, over 8 buildings:

·        1 administration/student support services – a second floor is being added for commercial campus services (possibly a health services unit).

·        5 three-storey buildings, containing 20 one-bedroom units per floor, with a bathroom shared between two units, and shared kitchen/living room space.

·        2 three-storey buildings, containing four “quads” per floor - each unit contains four separate bedrooms, two bathrooms, and shared kitchen/living room space (16 beds total per floor).

·        4 studio suites for residential student advisors.

Units for students with disabilities are integrated into the units:  3 in the 20-bed unit, and 2 in the
4-bedroom buildings, for a total of 5 rooms.

Outdoor features include:

·        barbeque/patio area

·        basketball court

·        sand volleyball court

·        bike storage

·        100 additional parking spaces for new student residences