Ideal. Idyllic. Impressive.
That’s how Daren Hancott describes the location of Yorkville University’s soon-to-be-opened new campus location in British Columbia’s ‘Royal City’.
“It offers a vibrant campus location in a university town that only has one university – Yorkville University,” Hancott – Yorkville’s Vice President Academic, British Columbia – said of the still-under-construction new space located at 88 Sixth St. in New Westminster, BC.
“It’s an ideal, idyllic location in a former capital where we will be the only university – so that’s an impressive milestone that presents an extraordinary opportunity for our students, faculty and staff.”
Tentatively slated to open in October 2019, the new 25,000-square-foot campus will feature 17 classrooms, a student lounge and kitchen, and a computer lab and learning commons, among other amenities.
“It’s going to be a vibrant space that’s all about students,” Hancott said, estimating that, when complete, the new campus will be nearly two-and-a-half times the size of Yorkville’s current BC campus in downtown Vancouver.
“The New West campus is about student life, it’s about amenities, it’s about the look and feel of a campus, and it’s a massive upgrade.”
Another huge perk of the new space is its proximity to the SkyTrain’s Expo Line – located as it is just a seven-minute walk from both Columbia and New Westminster stations.
“Being right near the SkyTrain is really big for the vast majority of our faculty, students and staff – instead of commuting an hour, it’ll be just 15 minutes for some people…so the unnecessary frustrations of transit and long commutes are gone,” Hancott said, noting that there are also lots of local restaurants and coffee shops surrounding the new campus.
“So now you can eat, work and play in the same location. When you look at it from that perspective, it’s very exciting.”
Once opened, the campus is expected to accommodate approximately 1,500 students enrolled in Yorkville’s range of Bachelor of Business Administration degree programs – including the General BBA stream, as well as its specializations in Accounting, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, and Energy Management.
“It’s going to be a huge, inspirational opportunity for faculty, staff and students, because when you’re growing like this, you can offer people more opportunities,” Hancott said, noting that he foresees the course offerings out of Yorkville’s BC campuses only expanding in the years to come.
“This is not the end of the story – this is just the beginning of the story for Yorkville in British Columbia.”
