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Site preparation has started for a long-awaited, $50-million, five-storey student residence at Lambton College in Sarnia, Ont. that will house more than 300 students.

The venture is being developed through a public-private partnership with Tilbury Properties Corporation, a boutique development firm with roots in southwestern Ontario, and Fengate Asset Management, which will design, construct, finance, operate and maintain the residence.

It is the largest capital project in the history of the college. Other companies involved in the project include Teeple Architects which will be completing the design, Ball ��������ion which will oversee the build, and Varsity Communities.

A ceremony was held at the site recently to mark the beginning of the project. College students and employees were joined by partners, community stakeholders and elected officials, including MP Marilyn Gladu, MPP Bob Bailey and Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley.

“This residence is more than a building; it’s a commitment to Sarnia-Lambton and the students who will shape its future as workers and community members,” said college president and CEO Rob Kardas.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Tilbury, a developer that specializes in purpose-built student housing, (and is) dedicated to creating vibrant and transformative student communities. Together with Tilbury, we’ve created an innovative agreement that safeguards our role as a pillar of this community.”

At the service, Kardas and Michael Kaye, partner at Tilbury Properties, each had a hand on the ceremonial shovel – the same one used in 1968 to break ground for the original Lambton College.

“Tilbury’s roots are in southwestern Ontario, providing our team with a unique understanding and appreciation for Lambton College’s place in its community,” said Kaye.

Kaye has a close connection to the college. His grandfather’s construction company was awarded the contract to build the first ever Lambton College building on the campus in 1969.

“My grandfather helped usher in an enduring era of student and community success at Lambton College,” he noted. “To be following in his footsteps and partnering with the college on this legacy project that will have a similar impact on the community and Lambton College students for decades to come is truly an honour.”

The new building is scheduled to open in September 2027, the year the college will celebrate its 60^th anniversary. The complex will have apartments, communal spaces, lounges and outdoor patio space. Quiet study spaces will support students in their education.

The residence will be situated on the north end of campus towards London Road in the green space to the east of the EarlyON Centre. It will be closely connected to other buildings at the college and provide easy access to the campus grounds and trails.

Renderings of the building show a sleek-looking structure with an expansive entranceway. Large floor-to-ceiling windows at the entrance and throughout the building allow for plenty of light.

The residence will feature a mix of hybrid and apartment suites, kitchens, and a micro market.

The 102,000-square-foot building will replace a 280-student college residence in a former hotel that also holds an event centre and culinary, esthetician and photography programs. Repairs to the current building were deemed too expensive.

The existing residence will likely be demolished but there is talk of keeping the event centre and academic spaces.

The college had 4,500 students in the last school year. More than 40 per cent of domestic students came from outside the school’s catchment area.

Planning for the residence first began in 2021 when the college paid off all its long-term debt. Over the past four years, Lambton College worked with Ernst & Young LLP to reassess the school’s current approach to student housing and explored various alternative models of housing delivery.

A market demand analysis was used to determine the right number and mix of units to responsibly meet student demand and provide desired amenities. A long-term financial analysis of different development options identified that a public-private partnership would best support Lambton College’s financial sustainability. 

Mac Bell, managing director, infrastructure investments at Fengate, said the company is eager to see the project built.

“Fengate looks forward to bringing its deep institutional project experience to this new campus residence to provide modern, sustainable accommodation opportunities to Lambton College students in 2027,” he said.