The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in British Columbia has selected Canadian firms DIALOG and Group2 to design and the construction companies Clark Builders and Turner to build a six-story, CAD $73 million (USD $54 million) mass timber student housing building.

Located on the University’s Abbotsford campus, the facility will feature 398 beds, increasing on-campus student housing from 200 beds to 598. 

Architect and DIALOG partner Marion LaRue said the firm aims to create a welcoming and efficient student housing building that utilizes leading techniques and materials.

The building will include lounges, shared kitchens, study rooms, and mixed-use and cultural spaces. It will also integrate passive house building certification standards. 

The project will utilize the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method, which increases efficiency by engaging all participants through all phases of design, fabrication, and construction. The construction team also states that modularization and prefabrication will be integrated into the project.

Construction on the student housing facility is expected to begin in the fall of this year, with completion set for the fall of 2024.