New student housing officially opens at Ivany Campus

Today, July 30, NSCC is pleased to officially open a new 200-bed, 96,000 sq. ft. student housing facility at Ivany Campus. Advanced Education Minister Brendan Maguire joined NSCC President Don Bureaux, Ivany Principal Kathleen Allen and members of the College community to celebrate the opening, which will welcome its first students this September.

Thanks to the hard work of the professionals within our Facilities and Engineering team, Campus teams and the $58.6 million investment from the Province, this housing is set to welcome the first residents in September. This new complex not only offers an important additional housing resource to the College, it is also another component of the provincial government’s work to address the wider housing inventory needs across Nova Scotia.

With the opening last fall of a 50-bed unit at Pictou Campus and a 98-bed unit at Akerley Campus, these projects represent a $98.9 million investment in NSCC students and communities. The new student spaces will help ease pressure on the housing inventory in the broader community and grow the number of safe, modern and affordable options for our students.

June 2025 Business Administration graduate, former Board of Governors student representative, and new campus employee, Hira Bari brought greetings on behalf of students at the Dartmouth event. Hira said, “To have 200 clean, safe spaces available right on campus is such a huge benefit to students wanting to study at NSCC. On behalf of those who will be moving in next month, I want to thank all involved for this commitment and investment in our students, our community and the well-being it will bring to those residing in the spaces.”

Minister Maguire said, “We know that access to housing is essential for student success. This beautiful new waterfront facility at the NSCC Ivany Campus represents our government’s commitment to supporting students as they pursue their post-secondary education here in Nova Scotia.”

Don noted, “This beautiful new unit overlooking the Halifax Harbour just a stone’s throw from the campus front doors is such a welcome addition to the Ivany community. I’m so grateful for the tremendous work of our Facilities and Engineering team, and Campus teams and contractors that have ensured this project was delivered on time and on budget.” He added, “It’s thanks to a significant government investment and their trust in our mission that we have been able to add new housing facilities at three of our campuses in just the past year (Ivany, Akerley, Pictou). These 348 new student rooms will go a long way to improve access and, in turn, the opportunities for those wishing to pursue an education and a positive future through the College.”

Ivany Campus Principal Kathleen Allen also thanked the teams responsible for the build and expressed a deep gratitude for the campus community for their understanding as the construction was underway. She added, “I am also so appreciative of the patience and understanding of our external community as they lived through the temporary inconveniences as this new housing resource came to life.”

During the event, a ceremonial tree planting also took place to commemorate the building’s official opening. The new housing facility brings the total of student housing resources across the province to six (total capacity of 549 beds). Thanks to an additional provincial investment announced in 2023, planning for four more housing facilities for Lunenburg, Kingstec, IT and Cumberland Campuses is underway. Once built, the College will have a capacity of more than 800 spaces for students to live in while studying at the College.