BC opens new on-campus student housing at North Island College

The Government of British Columbia announced that North Island College’s first on-campus student housing complex is now open for students.

“Students of all ages will benefit from North Island College’s first student housing project,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “This 217-bed project uses locally sourced mass timber, which is a more sustainable choice of building material and demonstrates that smart infrastructure investments can strengthen communities and create lasting benefits.”

The buildings address a critical shortage of accessible and culturally appropriate student housing in the region, while also helping to reduce pressure on the local rental market. Many North Island College (NIC) students, especially those from rural, Indigenous or low-income backgrounds, faced barriers to attending or completing their education due to a lack of affordable housing in the area.

“I moved three hours from home to the Comox Valley to attend North Island College, a transition that initially brought anxiety about leaving behind my support system and diving into something entirely new,” said Dawson Carter-Woodcock, an NIC student. “From the moment I moved into housing, I felt welcomed and supported. I look forward to calling residence my home for the next two years and to the friendships, personal growth and memories I’ll take with me when I leave.”

Construction began in September 2023 and the design was developed in partnership with the K’ómoks First Nation and K’ómoks Connections Committee. Named in pentl’ach, one of the languages of the K’ómoks First Nation, the student-housing project is called tul’al’txw, which means “a house (place) of learning.”

“Whether you’re a student on your own or with a family, having the option to live on campus makes it easier for you to succeed in your studies,” said Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “That’s why government is so pleased to support the first student housing on the North Island College Courtenay campus. These family-oriented suites and apartments mean that more people on Vancouver Island can pursue an education and build a better life for their families.”

The tul’al’txw student-housing complex consists of:

• two connected buildings, offering 157 beds in studio apartments and shared units; and
• a third building with 60 beds in two-bedroom suites for students with families.

The buildings are made of mass timber to reduce environmental impact and support B.C.’s Wood First program. In addition, much of the project was built off site, improving efficiency and minimizing waste. The three buildings meet Step 4 of the B.C. Energy Step Code, the highest energy-efficiency standard for commercial buildings.

The $77-million complex includes a $75-million investment from the provincial government and a $2-million contribution from North Island College.

“With the opening of the new housing, tul’al’txw, North Island College marks not only our 50th anniversary but sets us on course for the years ahead. More than simply housing, this place will become central for the people who live here to develop as students and as people, and it helps NIC meet our goal of building healthy and thriving communities, one student at a time,” said Lisa Domae, president and CEO, North Island College.

Featured image: (Government of BC)