Designed to initially house over 1,600 youth athletes during the 2023 Canada Winter Games, the University of Prince Edward Island’s new residence has since transitioned into a cornerstone of student life. Now home to more than 260 students, the building reflects a broader vision—one that blends permanence with adaptability, and performance with human experience.
The complex consists of two towers, nine and five storeys, joined by a connective podium that houses a 400-seat theatre, multipurpose classrooms, and a suite of social spaces that blur the line between academic and residential life. This programmatic base acts as a civic anchor along University Avenue, welcoming both the university community and the broader public.
Design strategies emphasize natural light, wellness, and comfort. Each student unit is configured to maximize daylight and privacy, while public corridors and lounges foster social interaction. Clad in a balanced composition of brick, metal, and glass, the building echoes the material language of the existing campus, while articulated façades and a varied massing strategy maintain an approachable scale.
Equally grounded in performance, the residence integrates geothermal heating and cooling, energy-efficient lighting, and a high-performance envelope, advancing the university’s sustainability objectives. From its origin as a temporary athlete village to its enduring role as a dynamic student residence, the project captures a unique duality: a space built for a singular event that now supports everyday moments of growth, learning, and connection. In doing so, it not only meets the evolving needs of its users but also elevates the role of student housing within the university’s architectural and cultural landscape.
