Sep 19, 2025 – Raynee Novak/Victoria News

On Friday, Sept. 19, North Island College (NIC) had an opening ceremony for its new student housing, tul’al’txw, which means “a house (place) of learning.”

The NIC housing project started construction in September 2023 and is ready to welcome students. The design was developed in partnership with the K’ómoks First Nation and K’ómoks Connections Committee. In total, tul’al’txw will provide 217 beds for students, including 157 student beds in two linked buildings and 60 beds for students with families in the third building.

“Students of all ages will benefit from North Island College’s first student housing project,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “This 217-bed project uses locally sourced mass timber, which is a more sustainable choice of building material and demonstrates that smart infrastructure investments can strengthen communities and create lasting benefits.”

The buildings address a critical shortage of accessible and culturally appropriate student housing in the region, while also helping to reduce pressure on the local rental market. Many NIC students, especially those from rural, Indigenous or low-income backgrounds, faced barriers to attending or completing their education due to a lack of affordable housing in the area.

The buildings are made of mass timber to reduce environmental impact and support B.C.’s Wood First program. In addition, much of the project was built off site, improving efficiency and minimizing waste. The three buildings meet Step 4 of the B.C. Energy Step Code, the highest energy-efficiency standard for commercial buildings.

Read the full article at vicnews.com.