GBA Group

Laurier Friel Student Housing

Project Manager

Ottawa, ON, Canada

Graham Bird was the project manager overseeing the design team, as well as the liaison with the community and the City of Ottawa, to bring the project to completion of the design approval stage.

This project involved the redevelopment of approximately one acre of land in the heart of Sandy Hill. The program for the private-sector represents the leading edge approach to privately run facilities focused on a student population. It is designed to marry physical infrastructure with exemplary management and create an environment that students and parents will find desirable.

The scale of the project, with gross floor area of approximately 24,584 m2 spread over nine storeys, represents a project of substantial size that demands a careful integration with the business model and the ongoing management of the facility.

The project includes approximately 190 suite-style units in studio, two, and four-bedroom configurations. They include shared bathroom, kitchen and living spaces. The ground level includes retail (1,217 m2), a fitness centre (260 m2) and student amenity area (433 m2). The project features one level of underground parking with 62 parking spaces.