UBCO Childcare (UBC Okanagan)

Project Snapshot

Project Size: 5,000 gross sq feet / 464 gross square metres
Budget: $3.3 million
Status: In design
Occupancy: TBD
Project Manager: Infrastructure Development – Project Services

Project Summary

Since its inception in 1992, the existing Child Care Centre on the UBC Okanagan (UBCO) campus has experienced increasing demand due to a more than three-fold growth in the faculty, staff and student population. In 2019, a grant facilitated the renovation and expansion of the Centre to allow for 20 additional childcare spaces bringing the total number to 57. Despite this increase in spaces, the Centre is consistently at capacity and has an extensive waitlist.

In 2020, UBCO successfully applied for a $1.45 million grant from the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund to increase the licensed childcare spaces on campus by an additional 37 seats. Provision of space for the program expansion requires the construction of a new building in close proximity to the existing Centre. With the additional building, the new Child Care Centre complex will accommodate 94 child care spaces, comprised of 34 infant spaces and 60 spaces for the 3- to 5-year age group, and help to address the long-term need for on-campus child care and support the campus’ rapid growth.