Written by Leslie Rose, Link Writer & Editor and BCIT Broadcast & Journalism student
Images provided by BCIT Campus Planning
For many of us, this is our first time here since we threw our assignments and exam papers into the air like a scene from High School Musical. A lot of us don’t think about school over the summer break, so the changes that happen while we’re off sunbathing somewhere can come as a bit of a surprise.
As I pulled into the Burnaby campus, I noticed three new buildings going up, one of them on the site of what used to be my favourite parking lot. I was shocked to see it go last September. There are seven active construction projects on campus this school year, and they’re changing everything from parking to where students learn and hang out.
We spoke with Ben Hill, BCIT’s Communications and Services Improvement Manager, and Danica Djurkovic, BCIT’s AVP of Campus Planning and Facilities, to learn more about what’s being built, why, and what’s still to come. They explained that the goal is to take a holistic approach to student life and well-being on campus. BCIT has a five-year capital plan that will modernize the Burnaby campus to better support learning in the twenty-first century. This includes new trades buildings and multifunctional spaces for students to socialize, collaborate, and learn.
To keep track of the projects and their timelines, check out the Burnaby Campus Major Construction Notice Map, which covers current and upcoming projects.
So, what comes first?
This year, we will see the completion of the Marine & Mass Timber Pavilion, a training space for programs in marine, steel, and mass timber trades. We will also see parts of the South Campus Infrastructure Renewal come to life. The project aims to modernize campus systems for greater sustainability and efficiency. The project will also include infrastructure improvements to enhance landscaping and accessibility, as well as the daylighting of Guichon Creek.
You may also find yourself walking by the Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion (NE21), which is currently under construction. It will be the new hub for wood innovation at BCIT.
Projects are prioritized based on campus needs and priorities. The Campus Planning team has a list of projects they would like to complete, but they don’t always determine which ones move forward first. They align projects with government priorities and ministry needs to secure funding. Last year, affordable student housing was an important priority. That priority helped secure funding for Tall Timber, a 12-storey student housing building that opened in Fall 2025.
The current phase of construction isn’t just about the end goal, though. These projects are also being used as teaching opportunities for BCIT students. While students aren’t working directly on the projects, the teams behind them are demonstrating their leadership, their roles, and how the projects are built. Some programs can even incorporate the construction projects into their curriculum through lab work and presentations, while materials are archived for future students to use.
Want to see what’s happening on-site? Check out the livestream!
Parking Updates
If you’re concerned about parking, you aren’t alone. Having so much construction on campus puts pressure on parking. Campus Planning is taking steps to help relieve some of that pressure, though. In the short term, economy lots are being added to the Centre for Applied Research & Innovation (CARI) campus, just across Willingdon Avenue. In the long term, the new Concert Properties Centre for Trades and Technology will add more underground parking when it is completed in 2029. The new R2 Marine-Willingdon RapidBus will also travel from Metrotown Station to Park Royal. The new route could help make BCIT a more transit-friendly and accessible campus. If you’re not on the Burnaby campus, don’t worry. Plans for the Downtown Campus are also in the early stages. With the parking changes, the new RapidBus, and all the future development plans, you might wonder what any of this does for you right now. Most of us are only at BCIT for two to four years. But I encourage you to take a step back and consider the bigger picture.
You may not be thrilled about more construction and fewer parking spots this year, but think about what the campus could look like in the future. You may only be here for a few years, but the campus will serve generations of students after you. That makes its future worth investing in.
Leslie is Link’s Writer & Editor for 2026–27 and a BCIT Broadcast & Journalism student.
