The amount of students residing on the premises of Okanagan College in Kelowna, B.C., will increase by more than two times at the beginning of next autumn.
The college announced that the new student housing building located at the intersection of K.L.O. Road and Campus West Road is close to being substantially completed.
“The government is taking steps to address one of the major issues that students face today — the search for safe, secure, and affordable housing near campus,” stated Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, in a press release.
“In seven years, 7,766 student housing beds have been constructed, and we’re in the process of building another 4,000 on-campus beds to enable students to reside where they study, concentrate on their studies, and alleviate pressure on the local rental market.”
The six-level structure incorporates components of mass timber and showcases distinctive design features from two renowned Indigenous artists. It will introduce 216 dormitories to OC’s campus housing in Kelowna, in addition to the existing 144 rooms at Skaha Place.
With OC sites situated on the ancestral land of the Syilx, Secwépemc, Ktunaxa, and Sinixt Nations, Okanagan College collaborates with Indigenous communities and artists to recognize the Nations through unique artwork at all of its campuses.
For the new student housing in Kelowna, artist Les Louis, an Okanagan College graduate originating from the Lower Similkameen Band, has fashioned story pole designs near the interior entrance, establishing a warm and inviting space.
Syilx artist Clint George’s feather sculpture is integrated into the building’s outer solar shades. George is a member of the Penticton Indian Band.
The first-ever on-campus student housing facilities are set to open to students this autumn in Vernon and Salmon Arm.
Three new facilities will be accessible to students this September. In Vernon, construction is approaching completion for 100 rooms and in Salmon Arm, a project to construct 60 rooms is also advancing. All three new buildings will be available this fall, and applications are currently being accepted from interested students.
