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Lower Mall Precinct Student Housing Redevelopment – Phase 1

Project snapshot

Project Size: 66,050 gross square metres
Budget: $560 million estimate
Status: In progress

Project summary

This priority project will redevelop housing at St. John’s College (SJC) to increase on-campus student housing and create a vibrant student-focused precinct on the west side of campus. UBC is committed to supporting the student housing need in the context of significant demand and the growing unaffordability of the region.

Phase 1 is proposed to create multiple buildings with a net addition of 1,325 graduate student beds (approximately 1,500 new beds, including 175 replacement beds). Student Housing and Community Services (SHCS) and Campus + Community Planning (C+CP) are assessing feasibility and conducting early community engagement for the site.

Subsequent project phases will explore additional first-year, upper year, and graduate student beds through further development of the LMP.

Construction area and road closures

Utility work for the Lower Mall Precinct development will be starting in February 2026. Please see the details below for the different phases of construction and the detailed impacts.

Shuttle Route 68 Detour

The #68 shuttle will be detoured off of Lower Mall to Marine Drive from February 6 to November. Temporary stops will be installed on NW Marine Drive at University Boulevard and West Mall to make up for the closed stops starting February 6, 2026. 

Phase 1: Early February to Mid-March 2026

  • Lower Mall closed from the West Parkade entry to the Marine Drive Residence access
  • Sidewalks will remain open
  • Access to West Parkade from the north only, i.e. University Boulevard

Phase 2: Mid-March to Late April 2026

  • Lower Mall closed from the West Parkade entry to north of the University Boulevard intersection
  • Sidewalks will remain open
  • Access to West Parkade from the south only, i.e. Agronomy Road

Phase 3: May to Late July 2026

  • University Boulevard closed from Lower Mall to NW Marine Drive
  • Single lane closed on Lower Mall at University Boulevard
  • Sidewalks will remain open

Phase 3: May to Late June 2026

  • Same as Phase 1, but detour to West Parkade will change in June to detour in Phase 5. 

Phase 4: May to Late October 2026

  • West Mall fully closed from Memorial Road to University Boulevard.
  • Agricultural Road pedestrian crossing to remain open.
  • Sidewalk on east side of West Mall from Agricultural Road to University Boulevard will be closed.

Phase 5: June 2026 to September 2029

  • University Boulevard closed from Lower Mall to NW Marine Drive until 2029 for Lower Mall Precinct development.
  • Detour to access the West Parkade: NW Marine Drive → West Mall → Memorial Road → Lower Mall.
  • Sidewalk on north side of University Boulevard will remain open.

Phase 6: July to Late August 2026

  • Lower Mall closed from Oberlander Lane to Agronomy Road.
  • Detour to access the West Parkade: NW Marine Drive → West Mall → Memorial Road → Lower Mall.
  • Sidewalks will remain open.

Phase 7: September to Late October 2026

  • Lower Mall closed from south side of West Parkade to Oberlander Lane
  • Detour to access the West Parkade: NW Marine Drive → West Mall → Memorial Road → Lower Mall.
  • Sidewalks will remain open.

Phase 8: May 2026 to November 2026

  • Final schedule to be determined, but will require closure of University Boulevard from West Mall to Lower Mall for utility tie-ins and DES work.

NOTE: Dates are subject to change. 

 

After the utility work is complete, the building construction will start and will continue to September 2029.

Learn more