Hundreds of student and faculty housing units are coming to Surrey

Hundreds of student and faculty residential housing units are coming to Surrey City Centre.

Surrey Health and Technology District says it is partnering with Western Community College (WCC) to feature more than 500 affordable student and faculty residential housing units.

An expanded campus site at the district’s latest development is also expected.

The news was announced at a news conference Wednesday morning. It was announced that WCC is experiencing significant growth in its hospitality, health, and technology programs — driving the rapid expansion into the district.

According to a release from the Surrey Board of Trade, the new development will be located adjacent to Surrey Memorial Hospital and the King George Skytrain Station, where a growing group of professional, health, technology, and academic organizations are located.

“We are blazing a trail in BC’s business and innovation landscape with the continuing expansion and accelerated momentum of Surrey’s Health and Technology District,” said Kirk Fisher, CEO of Lark Group, who is responsible for the District.

“Not only are we igniting Surrey’s innovation, health care and business landscapes, we’re creating access to local academic opportunities for future generations.”

The expanded campus space has a café and a large dining hall “supported by the college’s Bachelor of Hospitality internships and practicums.” It also features “resident support offices, a multipurpose room, an Indigenous-focused reflection space, laundry facilities, student study, lounge and kitchen area and bike storage spaces.”

“Recognizing the challenges many students face in securing suitable accommodation, we are pioneering efforts to provide housing facilities for 500 students and faculty,” said Gurpal Dhaliwal, president, Western Community College.

“As the first private institution in Surrey to tackle this issue head-on, we reaffirm our commitment to student success and well-being. By prioritizing access to safe and supportive housing.”

Mayor Brenda Locke says the City of Surrey will soon become B.C.’s largest city, with a forecast of a million people by 2042.

“The investment being made today will pay dividends in bolstering health care in Surrey over the long term. It makes a lot of sense to train health professionals within the city in the hopes they will stay and work in Surrey upon graduation,” she said.

With files from Raynaldo Suarez