Officials from the University of Windsor and Tilbury Capital engage in a ceremonial groundbreaking on the site of a new student residence underway on Sunset Avenue.
With shovels in hand, representatives of the University of Windsor and Tilbury Capital ushered in a new future for housing on campus and in the local community Monday.
During an event to mark the official groundbreaking of the new student residence, University of Windsor president Robert Gordon said the project will enhance the student experience and address a critical need for housing in Windsor.
“The new student residence will be a beacon of inspiration for our future students in the years to come,” Dr. Gordon said. “As a locally grounded, globally connected University community, we are also an institution for the Windsor-Essex region, meaning we have capacity to help transform the housing landscape in Windsor for a better future.”
The six-storey student residence will feature 452 beds, including 68 barrier-free beds, distributed across 226 suites with shared bathrooms (2:1 student to bathroom ratio), and 12 private residence life suites. Spanning 150,000 square feet, the project has been designed to cater to the needs of students. Its amenities include six community lounges, a house lounge, shared laundry facility, and a 275-seat food hall.
Located on Sunset Avenue between Wyandotte and Union streets, the state-of-the-art residence will be positioned to welcome Lancers ahead of the Fall 2025 semester. The project is the result of a public-private partnership with Tilbury Capital, a real estate investment and development company with a focus on purpose-built student accommodation.
“As we put shovels in the ground, this marks the beginning of the excitement and impact that this transformative project will bring to the University, the region, and most notably future University of Windsor students for decades to come,” said Michael Kaye, partner at Tilbury Capital.
“Creating a win-win outcome for all stakeholders has been immensely rewarding for our team and, as an alumnus, it has been extremely purposeful to have the opportunity to return to Windsor and collaborate on such a vital venture.”
The University currently accommodates students in three residence buildings— Alumni, Cartier, and Laurier halls. Each year, these buildings welcome 150 to 350 students, in addition to the thousands residing in private, off-campus rental accommodations.