UBC Okanagan Campus Plan

• Design for connection and flexibility
• Integrate informal and flexible learning opportunities
• Create space for innovation and partnerships
• Use campus lands as a platform for learning and applied sustainable practice
• Support learning and research on the land
• Integrate indigenous knowledge and stewardship practices

• Two new first-year student residences – one north of the Purcell residence and one north of the Skeena residence—both with access to dining facilities at Nechako
• Additional student housing within the Upper Cascades area
• Up to five new upper-year student housing buildings within the South Campus area, to be developed in phases over time

The Campus Plan envisions a new residential neighbourhood at the north end of the campus, located on the middle bench between the Ponderosa Woodland to the west and the Innovation Precinct to the east.

Over time, this neighbourhood will expand and diversify the housing options available to students, faculty, and staff, helping to foster a vibrant, year-round campus community.

Development of the neighbourhood will be guided by a Neighbourhood Plan, which will provide detailed guidance on land use, building siting and form, green building standards, open space and ecology, infrastructure, transportation and mobility, and phasing over time.

• The Community Heart – located centrally at the intersection of University Way and University Walk, it extends along the pedestrianized section of University Way between International Mews and Alumni Avenue, just west of campus’s Transit Exchange. These spaces may host a mix of food, retail, and everyday services—ideally with a focus on independent and local businesses.
• Amenity Hubs – smaller clusters of services and social spaces within new residential areas north and south of the academic core. These hubs can provide convenient access to food, retail, common and social spaces, and outdoor recreation for nearby residents, while fostering a sense of community.
• Childcare – continued expansion of child care services as the campus community grows. Potential future child care sites have been identified north of the existing child care facilities on Discovery Avenue and within the planned housing areas to the north and south of the academic core.
• Recreation – The Campus Plan identifies opportunities to expand both indoor and outdoor recreation facilities to meet evolving needs. This includes accommodating a future recreation centre, an expansion to the existing Gymnasium, and a variety of outdoor recreation spaces distributed across campus.

• Strengthen relationships and collaboration
• Create spaces of welcome and belonging
• Integrate Syilx Okanagan language and cultural expression
• Support land-based learning and stewardship

• Create welcoming and inclusive spaces
• Design new development to strengthen public spaces
• Celebrate culture, identity and place
• Design for learning, sustainability and year-round use

Ecology

• Prioritize disturbed sites for development
• Protect and restore sensitive areas
• Support habitat connectivity
• Preserve high-value wildlife trees

EXPLORE UBCO’s Ecology and Landscape

Landscape Form and Character

• Design with Whole Systems Thinking – take a holistic approach to landscape and site design that supports ecosystem health, biodiversity, landscape connectivity, and long-term resilience
• Reflect indigenous knowledge and cultural connection
• Make landscapes accessible and climate-ready
• Use native and adapted Plantings
• Strengthen the urban forest
• Minimize disturbance and restore thoughtfully

EXPLORE THE Whole Systems Infrastructure Plan

Rainwater Management

• View Rainwater as a Resource – use rainwater to support healthy and resilient landscapes, biodiversity, and the campus experience. Treat it as a design opportunity, not just a technical requirement.
• Integrate Low Impact Development (LID) – design new projects to manage rainwater where it falls. Employ strategies that make the most of each site’s unique landscape features to manage rainwater at its source.
• Plan for System Capacity and Growth – maintain key infrastructure like the campus pond and forebay, and the campus’ main overland flood path along University Way as recommended by the IRMP, and reserve space for future rainwater facilities to manage large storm events as the campus expands.
• Design Rainwater Features to Do More – create rainwater systems that also support biodiversity, contribute to natural systems, and offer opportunities for learning alongside their technical functions.

Explore THE Integrated Rainwater Management Plan

Accessibility

• Support Universal Access in Design – apply universal design principles in all new and renovated facilities, ensuring seamless, at-grade access and clear connections to accessible routes.
• Improve Campus Wayfinding for All Users – maintain and expand campus wayfinding to clearly communicate accessible routes and support easy navigation for people of all abilities.
• Locate Accessible Parking Strategically – ensure accessible parking is located within 100 metres of all new buildings with strong connections to accessible pathways. In pedestrian-priority areas, accessible parking should be preserved and expanded in existing and/or renovated Parking Lots along the middle bench (e.g., Lots B, F, G, M, W).
• Include Convenient Pick-Up and Drop-Off Areas – design accessible, weather-protected drop-off areas close to building entrances to reduce travel distances and support inclusive access.

Active Transportation Network

• Strengthen the Active Transportation Network – support walking, rolling, cycling, and micromobility through a safe, connected, and convenient network that links all parts of campus.
• Prioritize Pedestrians in the Campus Core – maintain the pedestrian-priority character of the campus core. As campus evolves, look for opportunities to expand walkable areas while ensuring service and accessibility needs are met.
• Design for Safety and Comfort – ensure new and existing streets, intersections, and pathways are safe, accessible, and inviting for all users. Apply best practices and follow UBC guidelines to support high-quality infrastructure that supports active travel across campus.
• Support Active Transportation with Facilities and Wayfinding – integrate clear wayfinding systems and provide secure bike parking, end-of-trip facilities, and micromobility stations—especially at key arrival points and growing areas of campus.

Transit Network

• Enhance Transit Access – continue supporting and advocating for improved transit connections between campus and the broader region, helping meet the university’s climate and mobility goals.
• Adapt Infrastructure to Evolving Needs – maintain and enhance key transit facilities—including the UBC Okanagan transit exchange and routing corridors—to align with long-term mobility goals and evolving transportation demand.

Vehicular Network

• Design Streets for All Users – apply complete streets principles to create safe, accessible, and comfortable movement for all users.
• Limit Vehicle Access in the Core – reinforce walking as the primary mode of travel in central campus areas by limiting vehicle use to essential services and accessibility needs.
• Plan for Safe Service and Delivery Access – integrate service, delivery, and pick-up/drop-off areas into building design in ways that minimize conflict with pedestrians and support safe, efficient operations.

Vehicle Parking

• Prioritize Perimeter Parking – continue locating parking at campus edges—via surface lots and possibly structured facilities—to reduce vehicle traffic in the core and support a pedestrian-oriented environment

Learn more about UBCO’s TransportationLEARN MORE ABOUT UBCO’S Parking Services