Students move into ‘nano suites’ at UBC’s newest residence

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Saturday is moving day for the students who will be making the University of British Columbia’s new “nano suites” home this semester.

Exchange opened last month and has a range of bedroom sizes, from studios all the way up to 4 bedroom units and townhouses.

“It has a new type of unit that we call a nano unit, which is 140 square feet of independent living,” says Andrew Parr, Managing Director of Student Housing and Hospitality Services at UBC.  “And when I say independent living I mean a living area, a bedroom, a desk, a full bathroom and a cooking area as well – all within that 140 square feet.”

The nano units are a more affordable option, renting for about $700 a month. They have been in high demand, with more than 1,300 students applying for the 71 suites. They feature a bed that flips up into a desk and a private bathroom.

Exchange can house up to 650 students, and is intended for upper year and graduate students. It’s located right by the bus loop and student union building.

5,000 students are moving into residences across the UBC campus this weekend. Parr says it can be an emotional time, particularly for the undergraduates who are leaving home for the first time.

“There’s many emotions that we see and experience today, and most of it is very positive, very excited, a happy day,” he says. “But there’s also a side of the day where people are quite anxious and there’s some trepidation. They’re saying goodbye to their mother and their father, their pets and siblings, and moving on to a new stage of life. So a whole range of emotions that we see.”

Parr says the school has a dedicated team of students who help their new colleagues get settled on campus.

Classes at the university start Sept. 4.