Ontario Construction News staff writer
University of Windsor officials and Tilbury Capital held a groundbreaking for a new student residence “to address a critical need” for housing in the city.
“The new student residence will be a beacon of inspiration for our future students in the years to come,” university president Robert Gordon said in a statement. “As a locally grounded, globally connected university community, we are also an institution for the Windsor-Essex region, meaning we have capacity to help transform the housing landscape in Windsor for a better future.”
The six-storey student residence will include 452 beds – 68 barrier-free, across 226 suites with shared bathrooms and 12 private residence life suites. Spanning 150,000 sq. ft., the project has been designed to cater to the needs of students. Its amenities include six community lounges, a house lounge, shared laundry facility, and a 275-seat food hall.
Located on Sunset Avenue between Wyandotte and Union streets, the residence will be completed in time for the fall 2025 semester. The project is the result of a public-private partnership with Tilbury Capital, a real estate investment and development company with a focus on purpose-built student accommodation.
“As we put shovels in the ground, this marks the beginning of the excitement and impact that this transformative project will bring to the University, the region, and most notably future University of Windsor students for decades to come,” said Michael Kaye, partner at Tilbury Capital.
“Creating a win-win outcome for all stakeholders has been immensely rewarding for our team and, as an alumnus, it has been extremely purposeful to have the opportunity to return to Windsor and collaborate on such a vital venture.”
The university currently has three residence buildings— Alumni, Cartier, and Laurier halls. Each year, these buildings each house 150 to 350 students.