In the next 10 years, the University of Guelph wants to ensure over 9,000 beds are available for students studying at the school.
U of G is exploring a plan that could see a new eight-storey residence at the corner of College Avenue and Gordon Street, as well as an expansion of the Wellington Woods complex.
The hope is to create more than 2,500 beds in mixed-use student housing by adding additional units in Wellington Woods.
The College and Gordon building would be geared toward graduate and upper-year graduate students, a news release explains. It would be built on the land where the Planet Bean currently stands.
"The rest of the building is virtually vacant at this point," said Ed Townsley, the associate VP, ancillary services. "Adjacent to it are a couple of houses that grad students live in."
He said the school would have a relocation plan for those grad students.
Anything involving those two builds is several years away.
Townsley said the plan for the Wellington Woods and College/Gordon building is still subject to governance approvals, which might take about a year. There will also be community and stakeholder engagement happening.
He said the first housing focus is on the recently announced plans to add a first-year residence at College and McGilvary Street.
Overall, these three sites would look to be home to over 4,000 new beds, with the hope of achieving this all by 2035.
At the moment, the university has just over 5,000 student beds, but that doesn't include privately-run student housing.
Delving deeper into the project, early plans for the Wellington Woods expansion would see a multi-phase build that would add about 2,200 beds in a variety of sizes, from studio units to townhouse units for students who have families.
The Gordon and College concept would see an eight-storey building with 280 beds.
The building would also have retail space, a lecture hall and a student study space.
