uOttawa Brooks Residence | Decommissioned

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

Meanwhile we're living with a housing shortage crisis and the university is sitting on all these derelict residential buildings... The presence of privately-owned university residences around OttawaU would also suggest that student housing around campus is very much in demand.

Wonder why the University is taking so long to do anything about these.

Province should step-up and encourage post-secondary institutions to build housing by providing a generous fund. They have a real problem actually putting money where their mouth is.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Province should step-up and encourage post-secondary institutions to build housing by providing a generous fund. They have a real problem actually putting money where their mouth is.

Yesterday, the feds announced that they would remove GST costs from all new purpose built housing. That included student housing. The province could encourage the building of student housing by providing low interest loans, that is financing below current market rates.

uOttawa has been talking to the Montreal developer that proposes to build those high rises at 2 Robinson Av. The goal is to do a deal that would include student housing in that development.

[TheBrain]

From today's uOttawa Gazette:`

https://www.uottawa.ca/en/news-all/u...ousing-project

University of Ottawa takes key step towards transformational student housing project

The Board of Governors has approved a landmark student housing project that will elevate the on-campus housing experience by bringing more students closer to the downtown campus.
...
Planning and construction of the new housing facilities will reflect current standards for comfort, sustainability and affordability. This will be the first in a series of new buildings that will add 2,600 new beds altogether to the mix of housing options uOttawa offers its students.
....
Demolition of the Brooks Complex is set to begin as early as May 2026, depending on permits. More information on temporary alternate parking arrangements will be shared with the uOttawa community at the earliest opportunity.

Glad I bike to work, parking is going to be a shitshow for the next few years. :|

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by TheBrain

From today's uOttawa Gazette:`

https://www.uottawa.ca/en/news-all/u...ousing-project




Glad I bike to work, parking is going to be a shitshow for the next few years. :|

I loved Brooks. I had a few friends who lived there during undergrad. Nice big suites and super convenient for the science lectures/labs. I hope they do something really nice in its place. It's a huge and prominent location from inside and outside the university.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by TheBrain

From today's uOttawa Gazette:`

https://www.uottawa.ca/en/news-all/u...ousing-project




Glad I bike to work, parking is going to be a shitshow for the next few years. :|

It already is and may get worse permanently. The grapevine says that they might build a new residence on what is now parking Lot K. No decision made yet. Will there be an increase in underground parking spots under the new builds?

[J.OT13]

Glad we're finally seeing an end to Brooks. I remember driving by as a kid and thinking those looked nice and modern. It's a shame they were so badly built.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

The grapevine is humming about this project, It is being said that the goal is to get the project completed sometime in 2029. An ambitious timeline to built 3 new residences and increase the available beds by 2600.

Also, this winter we may hear about a proposed new athletic facility. There may even be the first renderings available. From what I hear this project will be quite different from what has been previously talked about. It will likely cost in excess of $200 million.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

The grapevine is humming about this project, It is being said that the goal is to get the project completed sometime in 2029. An ambitious timeline to built 3 new residences and increase the available beds by 2600.

Also, this winter we may hear about a proposed new athletic facility. There may even be the first renderings available. From what I hear this project will be quite different from what has been previously talked about. It will likely cost in excess of $200 million.

Given the funding crunch for universities, I'm (pleasantly) surprised that they are still being that ambitious. Where would the athletic facility go? Still on the parking lots by Sandy Hill arena?

[J.OT13]

Huge news for uOttawa. Between Brooks replacement and the tower(s) going on Robinson (I imagine they'll act as unofficial student residences like Lees), we'll close a pretty significant gap in student housing.

Sounds like uOttawa will be booming in the coming years. The Carney Government focus on research and innovation is probably giving Universities a little more confidence after the last few years of uncertainty.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by phil235

Given the funding crunch for universities, I'm (pleasantly) surprised that they are still being that ambitious. Where would the athletic facility go? Still on the parking lots by Sandy Hill arena?

Well, it all has to be funded without government money--as far as is known now. The residences will be built entirely by a private investor consortium that will pay for it. They will go on university land and I assume they will lease the land and enter into a management contract with the university. It explains why uOttawa delayed tearing down the defunct Brooks Rez. The uni wants the developers to bear the cost of doing that.
A consortium of four companies operating under the banner of Integrated Campus Solutions (ICS) was chosen as the preferred proponent. ICS will begin negotiations with uOttawa in hopes of reaching an agreement and beginning construction in the spring of 2026.


The new athletic facility will go in that general area. A financing plan is in place and may be revealed this winter as well. I know a bit more about what this building will be like but discretion says that I should not reveal it prematurely.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Rideau-Vanier Councillor Stephanie Plante posted this on her Facebook account in October.

Stéphanie Plante - Rideau Vanier

·
Wayyyy back in the day I actually stayed in the uOttawa Brooks residence, and now as a Sandy Hill resident and Councillor for @Rideau_Vanier, I’m thrilled to see this new phase with construction beginning summer 2026.
A huge thank-you to Marie-Eve Sylvestre for bringing this project across the finish line, and to Geoff Frigon for his tireless work engaging with residents, Action Sandy Hill and understanding the importance of not just the campus footprint, but why students need housing that’s affordable, walkable, and woven into the fabric of our downtown neighbourhoods. I look forward to working with you on future projects!

[phil235]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

Well, it all has to be funded without government money--as far as is known now. The residences will be built entirely by a private investor consortium that will pay for it. They will go on university land and I assume they will lease the land and enter into a management contract with the university. It explains why uOttawa delayed tearing down the defunct Brooks Rez. The uni wants the developers to bear the cost of doing that.
A consortium of four companies operating under the banner of Integrated Campus Solutions (ICS) was chosen as the preferred proponent. ICS will begin negotiations with uOttawa in hopes of reaching an agreement and beginning construction in the spring of 2026.


The new athletic facility will go in that general area. A financing plan is in place and may be revealed this winter as well. I know a bit more about what this building will be like but discretion says that I should not reveal it prematurely.

Not sure how I feel about privately-owned residences on campus, but I guess that's the way of the world these days. I get that the capital expenditure is big, so it has a certain attraction. If the end result is a replacement for Brooks that creates the long hoped for grand boulevard along King Edward, that is definitely a positive. I just hope they don't cheap out on design.

Fair enough on the athletic facility - sounds like we'll hear about it pretty soon.

[urbanforest]

I have no idea what the requirements for an athletic facility would be, but I wonder if it would go in the bowl between Lees and Robinson. Could be a good use for that highway-adjacent property.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by urbanforest

I have no idea what the requirements for an athletic facility would be, but I wonder if it would go in the bowl between Lees and Robinson. Could be a good use for that highway-adjacent property.

EDIT: Just realized the 2 Robinson project isn't where I thought it was. I thought it was in the bowl, but it's behind the Sandy Hill Arena.

2 Robinson: https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...=245194&page=3

That bowl would be a good site if they could build a pedestrian bridge to shorten to walk to Lees Station.

[OTownandDown]

So if you're talking about an athletic facility in the podium under the residences, you're talking about replacing Montpetit and the Minto complex? There's more than enough space for the pools, gymnasiums, workout facilities, etc. The only think you wouldn't have space for is a new soccer field.

And then if Montpetit/Minto is abandoned, what will become of those sites? More redevelopment?

[OTownandDown]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

Re: The Sandy Hill Arena.

The Arena is old and energy inefficient. The City has long said that it wanted to get rid of/replace it. However, the land the arena sits on belongs to the NCC and is leased to the City. Sources at uOttawa have told me (I am a donor to Gee-Gee Sports) that the NCC has agreed to transfer/sell the land to uOttawa when uOttawa is ready to build a new Athletic Center on it (to replace the aging substandard Montpetit Hall). At the snail's pace that the university is gathering the resources for building an Athletic Center, it is still pretty far away.

Also, once the new residences are complete, that's the death-knell for Stanton and Marchand, right?

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

Also, once the new residences are complete, that's the death-knell for Stanton and Marchand, right?

Brooks decommissioned, LeBlanc and Thompson are said to be the residences that will be replaced in the at this time. Will Stanton and Marchand follow in the future? Who knows?

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

So if you're talking about an athletic facility in the podium under the residences, you're talking about replacing Montpetit and the Minto complex? There's more than enough space for the pools, gymnasiums, workout facilities, etc. The only think you wouldn't have space for is a new soccer field.

And then if Montpetit/Minto is abandoned, what will become of those sites? More redevelopment?

No podium under residences.Minto is only 25 years old and definitely will not be replaced. Montpetit has been talked about as being replaced,but it now appears that they believe that they can use it for some time to come. uOttawa has already spent several million dollars refurbishing the pool toward that end. Hint,the new facility will not contain a swimming pool. What they have in mind might surprise some when it is announced.

[OTownandDown]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

Brooks decommissioned, LeBlanc and Thompson are said to be the residences that will be replaced in the at this time. Will Stanton and Marchand follow in the future? Who knows?

My cousin was in Marchand a couple years ago, it was a sh*thole. Terrible leaky windows, super cold in the winter, HVAC in the hallway was roaring 24/7 (like, crazy loud), elevators down regularly (lots of stairs to climb to the top floors, like, once or twice a week..skipping meals and class so you don't have to do an hour's workout). Hallways worn out... Its time to bite the bullet and get rid of them.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by urbanforest

I have no idea what the requirements for an athletic facility would be, but I wonder if it would go in the bowl between Lees and Robinson. Could be a good use for that highway-adjacent property.

I have thought that the bowl might be an option, but it is not where the facility will be put. I have no idea what the university plans to do with the bowl. Nobody mentions it at all. Most people in the uOttawa community do not know that uOttawa currently owns the land.

Some wild speculation on my part. Now that The Canada-France Campus deal has been revealed maybe they will put up a building to be the HQ of said campus on the bowl. If they ever do put up such a building I expect France would contribute a lot to the cost of building it.