Surrey is set to welcome its first purpose-built on-campus student housing residence as Western Community College, Lark Group and ICT Group officially broke ground on City Centre 5, a major new development in the city’s rapidly expanding Health and Technology District.
The 23-storey project, located steps from King George SkyTrain Station and adjacent to Surrey Memorial Hospital, will feature 810 student beds across 182,000 square feet. Scheduled for completion in Fall 2028, the residence is designed to address the growing demand for accessible and high-quality student accommodation in Surrey.
The development is being built in partnership between ICT Group, Lark Group, and Western Community College (WCC), while UniLodge Canada will oversee the operations and management of the student residence once completed.
“We are incredibly proud to deliver Surrey’s first student housing development project designed to meet the growing demand for affordable, high-quality accommodation for post-secondary students right here in Surrey,” said Kirk Fisher, CEO of Lark Group.
Fisher added that the collaboration combines the development and construction expertise of Lark Group and ICT Group, WCC’s focus on student success, and UniLodge Canada’s experience in student housing management to create a space where students can “live, learn, and thrive.”
City Centre 5 forms part of the broader Health and Technology District, an eleven-phase master-planned community led by Lark Group and ICT Group that will eventually include nine City Centre buildings. The district has been envisioned as an integrated ecosystem bringing together healthcare, education, technology, and business organizations in Surrey’s growing innovation corridor.
Western Community College has already expanded its presence in the area through its City Centre 3 and flagship City Centre 4 campuses. The addition of City Centre 5 further strengthens Surrey’s emergence as a hub for education and healthcare innovation.
The purpose-built student housing will offer a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units designed to meet varying student needs. Amenities will include communal kitchens and dining spaces, study rooms, a fitness centre, gaming room and theatre, laundry facilities, indoor and outdoor lounges, as well as integrated daycare access nearby.
“This partnership reflects our long-term commitment to creating environments where students can truly thrive,” said Gurpal Dhaliwal, President of Western Community College. “Purpose-built student housing integrated into Surrey’s Health and Technology District strengthens the live-learn ecosystem we are building.”
UniLodge Canada, which manages more than 130 student housing properties across Australia and New Zealand, described the Surrey project as a major milestone for its Canadian operations.
“This partnership marks our first operational contract in Canada and will serve as the flagship for our Western Canadian operations,” said Mike Porritt, Chief Development Officer at UniLodge Canada. “We look forward to supporting student success by creating a safe, engaging, and supportive living experience.”
The area surrounding Surrey Memorial Hospital has increasingly become one of British Columbia’s most significant education and health innovation corridors. Institutions including University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University have also continued expanding their footprint in Surrey.
UBC currently operates several healthcare-related programs within the district and previously announced a $70-million acquisition of nearby property for future academic development. Meanwhile, SFU is moving ahead with plans for a dedicated medical school near Surrey Central SkyTrain Station.
Mayor Brenda Locke called the development a significant milestone for the city.
“As Surrey continues to attract students, educators, researchers, and healthcare professionals from across the region, the need for student housing has become increasingly important,” Locke said. “This landmark project will help strengthen the city’s growing academic ecosystem and support the continued evolution of the Health & Technology District as a centre for learning, innovation, and opportunity.”
