Surrey's first student housing tower will house 810 when it opens

Construction has officially begun on Surrey's first purpose-built student housing building, marking a major transformation of the Surrey City Centre area just north of Surrey Memorial Hospital.

Lark Group, ICT Group, and Western Community College broke ground on City Centre 5, a 23-storey tower that will create 810 student beds when it opens in Fall 2028. The capacity is substantially higher than the 500 beds initially projected when the tower was announced in early 2024, after it pivoted from planned office space.

The building is rising at 9682 137 Street within the Health and Technology District (HTD), about an eight-minute walk south of SkyTrain's King George Station. The location will place students within walking distance of rapid transit, healthcare services, restaurants, shops, and post-secondary campuses—crucial as the area evolves into a major education and innovation corridor.

The residence will include studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units designed specifically for student living. Amenities will include semi-private bathrooms, shared kitchen and dining areas, a fitness centre, gaming room, theatre, study rooms, laundry facilities, and both indoor and outdoor lounge areas. UniLodge Canada, a globally recognized student housing operator, will manage the residence after it opens.

For Western Community College, City Centre 5 represents another anchor in its expanding campus presence. The institution already operates out of City Centre 3 and the newly-built City Centre 4, which serves as its flagship campus.

"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, one that supports academic success, student wellbeing, and meaningful engagement with the community and industry."

Purpose-built student housing can ease pressure on Metro Vancouver's broader rental market by giving students a dedicated housing option instead of having them compete for conventional apartments and shared homes. This can free up existing rental supply for workers, families, and other residents—a critical benefit as the region faces ongoing affordability challenges.

City Centre 5 is part of the broader HTD, an 11-phase master-planned development by Lark and ICT expected to ultimately include nine City Centre buildings, creating a cluster of healthcare, education, business, and technology uses. The district is already attracting major institutional investment: UBC operates several programs from City Centre 1, including its Nurse Practitioner and Master of Physical Therapy programs, and recently acquired nearby properties for a new satellite academic campus. Simon Fraser University is expanding its presence with a purpose-built medical school building set to begin construction in late 2026.

This spring, ICT and Lark's City Centre 4 saw the opening of a Homewood Suites by Hilton with 189 guest rooms optimized for both short- and longer-term stays. The building also houses academic space for Western Community College and Stong's Market grocery store.