Inside Capilano University's first student housing building at its main campus | Daily Hive

Inside Capilano University's first student housing building at its main campus in North Vancouver

Treehouse residence, the first on-campus student housing building at Capilano University's main North Vancouver campus. (Government of B.C.)

Just ahead of the start of the new school year, students at Capilano University are already benefiting from the first on-campus student residence at the university’s main campus in the District of North Vancouver.

Treehouse, the name of the student housing building, also draws inspiration from First Nations culture. The six-storey building was constructed on the eastern half of the campus’ former Parking Lot 2, near the southwest corner of Monashee Drive and Tantalus Road.

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The building contains 362 student beds in a mix of single- and double-occupancy units, primarily intended for first- and second-year students.

Each floor includes shared washrooms, as well as communal study, lounge, and kitchen spaces.

treehouse capilano university student housing

Treehouse residence, the first on-campus student housing building at Capilano University’s main North Vancouver campus. (Government of B.C.)

Prominently located at ground level is a mass-timber dining hall with seating for 250 people, providing meal service to student residents, faculty, staff, and commuter students. The dining hall has also been sized to accommodate future demand resulting from the potential construction of additional student residence buildings on adjacent sites.

Other facilities within Treehouse include a First Nations-focused reflection and gathering space, a cafe, bicycle storage, a multipurpose room, laundry facilities, and student support spaces.

“Home is more than a place. It’s where dreams take root, resilience grows and futures begin,” said Jason Dewling, president of Capilano University, in a statement.

“With the opening of Treehouse, the first on-campus student housing building at Capilano University’s North Vancouver campus, we thank the Province for helping us create a campus community where students have safe, affordable housing and a space to learn and thrive.”

Treehouse residence, the first on-campus student housing building at Capilano University’s main North Vancouver campus. (Government of B.C.)

The new on-campus residence will enable students to eliminate lengthy commutes (especially from the south side of Burrard Inlet), access secure and relatively more affordable housing (given the North Shore’s tight housing market), focus more closely on their studies, and participate more fully in campus social life and activities. It will also help ease some of the pressure on the broader rental housing market.

The project carried a total cost of $58.2 million, including $41.5 million from the provincial government and $16.7 million from Capilano University. Architectural firm HDR designed the building.

“For many post-secondary students, having a place to live on campus can make all the difference,” said Bowinn Ma, B.C.’s Minister of Infrastructure and MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale.

“This new student housing at Capilano University will give students a supportive place to live, study and build community, while making it easier for them to access the education and opportunities they came here to pursue.”

Treehouse residence, the first on-campus student housing building at Capilano University’s main North Vancouver campus. (Government of B.C.)

Capilano University has an enrolment of about 12,700 students, with the overwhelming majority attending its main campus in North Vancouver.

In 2017, the university established its first student residence serving the main campus, although it is located off campus. The university leases a former international boarding school at 2420 Dollarton Highway, about a 10-minute drive or 15-minute bus ride from the campus via Phibbs Exchange. This off-campus student residence has 250 beds.

In August 2023, the post-secondary institution and the provincial government acquired the former Quest University campus in Squamish to establish a satellite Capilano University campus in the Sea to Sky corridor. When it opened in September 2024, the campus also provided 333 student housing beds — enough to guarantee all students studying at that campus with housing.

Treehouse residence, the first on-campus student housing building at Capilano University’s main North Vancouver campus. (Government of B.C.)

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