General Update/Rumour thread [Urban Ottawa]

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

With two residences on Rideau Street --albeit leased, not owned--and 800 students, I guess one can say that the uOttawa Campus has extended to Rideau Street. Plus a uOttawa Family Medicine and Specialities Clinic at 316 Rideau Street. Part of UO Health Services.

Here is the official university announcement and what they say about the new digs.

One, two, three! uOttawa to open a third new student residence


OTTAWA, March 18, 2015 — In keeping with its goal of increasing the number of places available in student housing, the University of Ottawa is pleased to announce that it will be opening a new 414-place residence in September 2015.

The former Quality Hotel, located at the intersection of Rideau Street and King Edward Avenue, will be converted into a new student residence featuring 207 double rooms. The new residence will be similar to regular student housing, but with additional features, such as air conditioning, double beds, full ensuite bathrooms and flat screen TVs in every room.

Located a few minutes’ walk from campus, this residence will be managed solely by the University and will welcome mostly first-year students. Residents will enjoy the unique experience of living in residence at the University of Ottawa, but will also benefit from the programs and support that the Housing Service offers in all residences, including advisors on every floor, study groups, and reception desk and security services. Students will also have access to all the campus-based resources available at the University, including mentorship, counselling and academic support services.

“The long-term lease we have signed with the building’s new owner allows us to meet our goal of adding some 1000 beds in residence for our students,” said Marc Joyal, the University of Ottawa Vice-President, Resources. “This new residence will allow us to provide more services to a greater number of uOttawa students, along with the structured and enriching experience of living in residence, which greatly eases the transition to university life and fosters academic success.”

But this is not the first time the University has transformed an existing facility into a residence: over the past several months, uOttawa has successfully converted a former senior’s home on Friel Street. The first 400 student residents, who were welcomed in September 2014, are very satisfied with their living arrangements.

With the recent opening of the residence on Friel Street, the opening of the new residence on Rideau Street in September, and the current construction of a new 172-place residence on Henderson Avenue slated to open in the fall, the University will have raised the number of places in student residences to 4,000 places, an increase in housing capacity of nearly 33% in one year.