KPU announces $144 million on-campus student housing building

On Sept. 29, Kwantlen Polytechnic University announced a student housing building at the institution’s Surrey campus, which is set to begin construction in early 2027. 

KPU President Bruce Choy, B.C. Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Jessie Sunner, and Parliamentary Secretary for Surrey Infrastructure Garry Begg announced the project, which will cost $143.4 million.

KPU’s $25 million share of the project will be funded by the sale of the land for the new Surrey hospital and BC Cancer Centre, which will be built behind the Cloverdale campus. The province will contribute the remaining $119 million.

The eight-storey building near the parking lot behind the Spruce Atrium on 126 Street and 70 Avenue will include 358 student beds, 49 single units, 147 double-occupancy rooms, and three bedroom apartment-style units. Other facilities include a common room, multi-faith room, laundry facilities, housing services, on-site security, secure bike storage, and repair facilities.

Food services will also be available seven days a week at a dining hall located beside the building. 

Units at the building would go up for rent at 20-per-cent below the market rate. The projected completion date for the project is 2030, the groundbreaking for which is scheduled for next fall.

“I’m so happy to be here today in my home of Surrey and home riding of Surrey-Newton to celebrate a milestone that’s been long coming,” Sunner said at the announcement.

“Today is a celebration for something that’s truly meaningful, not just for KPU, but for students, families, and the entire Surrey community. This is not just going to be a building. It’s a promise — a promise that students will have access to an affordable and welcoming place to live, while they pursue their dreams and their careers.”

Sunner added the student building at KPU will be the first provincially funded public student housing project in the city. 

The project is guided by Indigenous leadership and values and will prioritize housing for Indigenous students and former youth in care, she said.

“This is reconciliation in action.”

The project will also help students focus on their studies without having to worry about finding a place in a “tight rental market,” Sunner said. 

She also said the government is committed to supporting students by investing in various projects throughout the province, such as the Simon Fraser University School of Medicine, a centre for food, wine, and tourism at Kelowna’s Okanagan College, and the Royal Roads University John Horgan Campus in Langford. 

Since 2018, the government has committed over $2 billion to build on-campus student housing at post-secondary institutions throughout the province. 

“We’re extremely grateful to the province for recognizing students’ needs and supporting this vision,” Choy said at the announcement.

He added the project is vital to support students and the long-term future of KPU by helping students focus on their course work and creating a closer sense of community. 

Vice-President Students Zena Mitchell said the project is a “bold step forward,” which will help offer a more supportive living and learning environment for KPU students. 

“This project has been thoroughly guided by Indigenous leadership and their values, and surely, this design is not only inclusive, but also culturally grounded,” Begg said. “This important work ensures that this building reflects the traditions, teachings, and priorities of our First Nations communities to make sure that every student feels welcome and at home here.”

KPU graduate Honey Mathew spoke on what this “monumental step” for the university means for students.

“For so many of us, finding an affordable and safe space in the Lower Mainland has been an obstacle,” Mathew said.

Mathew also said safety has been a priority for international students like her and on-campus housing makes it easier to access KPU resources like the library, gym, or other social and club activities.

“Finding a home away from home is what every university should aspire to offer.”