Modern red and glass building surrounded by trees, pathway, and people walking.

Red brick university building with pathways and trees at dusk.

British Columbia Institute of Technology, Tall Timber Student Housing

Burnaby, British Columbia

Enriching the Student Experience

With a growing student population, low vacancy in surrounding cities, and limited housing near campus, BCIT faced an urgent need for additional student accommodation. At the same time, the Institute sought to demonstrate leadership in sustainability and innovation—creating a residence that could serve as a living lab for future learning and set a precedent for climate-resilient campus design.

The resulting Tall Timber Student Housing is a 12-storey mass timber building that more than doubles BCIT’s on-campus housing capacity, adding 469 beds in a mix of semi-suite and studio units. Designed with modularity and prefabrication at its core, the residence combines efficiency, resilience, and inclusivity—delivering a fully electric, Zero Carbon Building – Design Standard™ certified project that activates the South Campus Commons as a vibrant hub of student life.

Client: British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Size: 222,630 square feet
Completion Date: 2025
Sustainability: CAGBC Zero Carbon Building Design Standard, BC Energy Step Code 4

Modern urban street with people, glass building, and mountain views.

The residence creates a landmark along a primary north-south route, activating the eastern edge of campus.

A Student-Centred Hub

Strategic placement of the residence activates the South Campus Commons, creating a lively centre for daily campus life. On the ground floor, group study rooms, a flexible multi-purpose space, and an outdoor accessible plaza create natural gathering points and sightlines that connect students across programs and schedules. Inside, the unit mix reflects BCIT’s unique student demographic: semi-suite and studio units with shared kitchens, common dining areas, and quiet study zones respond to varied needs, cultivating community through everyday routines.

Sustainability and Resilience at the Core

From the outset, sustainability was the project’s organizing principle. A fully electric design, high-performance envelope, and low-carbon refrigerants enable the building to meet BC Energy Step Code 4 and achieve CAGBC Zero Carbon Building – Design Standard certification. Rigorous life-cycle assessment (LCA) informed material choices and assemblies, reducing embodied carbon at every stage. Thermal studies shaped decisions on solar orientation, glazing performance, and HVAC systems. Cooling strategies in lounges, enhanced ventilation in bedrooms, and solar exposure optimization were integrated to protect student comfort and well-being during extreme heat events, ensuring a resilient living environment for years to come.

Modern red office building with glass facade under a clear blue sky.

Designed for 2050 Climate model, the building sets a precedent for sustainable architecture and climate resilient campus design.

what makes it cool

BCIT's new Tall Timber Student Housing is the first building on its campus to achieve CAGBC Zero Carbon Building – Design Standard certification. It's also the tallest mass timber building in Burnaby.

Construction workers installing a large panel on a building site.

Prefabrication and modular planning streamlined installation, with one floor being completed approximately every 14 days during peak construction.

Innovation in Mass Timber and Prefabrication

As Burnaby’s tallest mass timber building, the residence leverages locally sourced CLT and a design-for-manufacture-and-assembly (DfMA) approach to maximize efficiency and minimize waste. Prefabricated wall assemblies and modular planning—based on optimal CLT panel sizes and program requirements—streamlined fabrication and installation, enabling remarkable speed: one floor was completed approximately every 14 days during peak construction. Structurally, CLT floors supported on slender 150mm square steel posts eliminate beams and transfer elements, reducing weight and embodied carbon while increasing usable floor area. Prefabricated steel cores in six-storey subassemblies provided lateral stability, accelerating assembly and reducing site labour.

Inclusive and Healthy Living

Accessibility was central to the design intent, and the project achieved Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC), establishing inclusive standards across units, common spaces, and site circulation. Healthy materials were specified to support well-being, and programming incorporated Indigenous input—particularly in landscape and planting—while a flexible community space at grade serves as an invitation for cultural expression and gathering. Daylight and views were prioritized throughout, with fully glazed shared spaces, operable windows, and individual thermostats in bedrooms. Warm wood finishes connect students to nature and the building’s construction technology, creating a sense of welcome and belonging.

People studying at a wooden table, focused and engaged.

The main lobby welcomes visitors and students with the warmth of wood-clad walls.

This was an opportunity to work with leading firms on creative and energy efficient solutions that demonstrate BCIT’s leadership on sustainability. We were excited to work with the project team to use the innovative elements in building as a Living Lab and provide learning opportunities for our students.

Danica Djurkovic, Associate Vice President, Campus Planning and Facilities, BCIT

Modern university campus with students studying and walking outdoors.

Group study rooms, a flexible multi-purpose space, and an outdoor accessible plaza create natural gathering points and sightlines that connect students across programs and schedules.

A Living Lab for Applied Learning

As an institute focused on applied technology, BCIT approached the residence as a learning platform. Information on the prefabrication process, envelope performance, and operational strategies helps inform future projects and learning, supporting BCIT’s Living Labs of sustainability initiative that turns energy systems, building technology, materials, and other topics into opportunities for hands-on discovery.

Modern red building with garden and people walking.

The building’s exterior consists of identical prefabricated cassettes. The repetition of the envelope module expresses the planning and structural rigour of the building.