A highly prominent site just beyond the jurisdictional campus border of the University of British Columbia (UBC) is slated to become a high-rise mixed-use tower.
In a deal worth nearly $29 million, Regent College recently completed the sale of its south surface vehicle parking to local developer Polygon Homes.
Regent College, the first graduate school of theology in North America and affiliated with UBC, is located at the highly prominent southeast corner of the intersection of University Boulevard and Wesbrook Mall.
The sale of the 31,000 sq ft parking lot — representing roughly one-third of Regent College’s property — went ahead following the Government of British Columbia’s final approval of Polygon Homes’ application to achieve its redevelopment plans. This approval, under the University Endowment Lands (UEL), was granted this past summer.
Site of Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)
Site of Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)
Existing condition:
Site of Regent House at Regent College. (Google Maps)
Future condition:
Concept for Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)
Concept for Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)
“I am delighted that our collaboration with Polygon Homes has reached this historic milestone. Polygon has been a pleasure to work with throughout this long planning process, particularly because they made a committed effort to understand who we are and what Regent needs from this project,” said Regent College president Jeff Greenman.
The post-secondary institution began working with Polygon Homes in 2019, and planning for the site’s potential development opportunities dates back over two decades ago.
Polygon Homes already has a highly established presence at UBC and on the UEL, specifically with building major housing projects at Wesbrook Village and Lelem Village.
According to Regent College board chair Earl Phillips, this project will add significantly to the institution’s endowment funds to support its long-term financial sustainability.
With the approval and sale, construction on Regent House tower is now expected to begin in early 2025 for a completion in 2027.
Concept for Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)
Concept for Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)
The approved plans enable the construction of a 180-ft-tall, 18-storey tower. There will be a total of 157 homes, including 22 graduate student housing units owned by Regent College within the second and third floors of the building. This student housing component entails 19 studio units, two one-bedroom units, and one three-bedroom unit. The college will have access to a common room and a spacious outdoor terrace.
Within the upper levels, there will be 27 secured purpose-built market rental homes (12 below-market units and 15 moderate-income rental units) and 108 strata market ownership condominium homes.
“The provision of housing for our students is very exciting,” said Diane Stinton, Dean of Students for Regent College.
“One of the biggest challenges our students face is the lack of reasonably-priced rental housing in Vancouver. This will allow for a small community of Regent students to share life in a beautiful new facility just steps from Regent’s front door.”
Concept for Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)
Concept for Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)
Concept for Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)
Concept for Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)
The ground level will see 10,000 sq ft of retail/restaurant uses, activating an attractive large landscaped plaza between the tower and the college building. This plaza, doubling as an east-west pedestrian connection between Wesbrook Mall and Dalhousie Road/Western Parkway, will feature restaurant patios and other seating for lingering. The building’s strong commercial uses will complement the adjacent University Village retail district.
Three underground levels will accommodate 205 vehicle parking stalls, including 30 stalls owned by the college for staff parking, 30 stalls for visitors, 14 stalls for rental residents, and 128 stalls for strata residents.
The total building floor area will reach approximately 123,000 sq ft, establishing a floor area ratio density of a floor area that is four times larger than the size of the parking lot. DYS Architecture is the project’s design firm.
Founded in 1968, Regent College has 600 full-time and part-time students, 18 full-time faculty members, and over 30 part-time, emeritus, sessional, and visiting faculty members.
Concept for Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)
Concept for Regent House at Regent College. (DYS Architecture/Polygon Homes)