Home Away Home: Student housing as a catalyst for student and community well-being in Cambridge

Abstract

In 2004, the University of Waterloo School of Architecture (UWSA) was relocated to Cambridge, Ontario, establishing a new satellite campus 31 km away from the main campus in Waterloo, Ontario. This move aimed to invigorate the city and provide an improved academic environment for architecture students. While the school offers a high-quality education, it currently lacks on-campus housing and other amenities available at the main campus. Although students appreciate the flexibility of off-campus housing, they also desire the safety and security provided by a dedicated student residence. It is particularly important to offer accessible housing alternatives to all students, especially those attending the School of Architecture, given the distance from the main campus. In addition, students face the challenge of finding housing every four months due to the required co-op program, which can lead to a loss of a sense of home and belonging. Addressing this issue requires an innovative approach to student housing design tailored specifically for UWSA students and the school’s location in the mid-size city of Cambridge. The proposed residence aims to be more than a product catering to students who are increasingly seen as mere consumers in today’s profit-driven student housing market. Its goal is to create a model of collective housing that meets the unique needs of architecture students during their short, yet profoundly formative, period of adulthood. The design explores the strengths and opportunities associated with the school’s status as a satellite campus. By understanding the intricacies of general student housing design and leveraging the context of UWSA, the proposed design strives to establish an environment that fosters community among students and engages with the public of the City of Cambridge.