University of Alberta: Student Residences

University of Alberta Residences

The University of Alberta has eight different residence communities: Lister Centre, HUB, International House, Résidence Saint-Jean, Augustana, East Campus Village, Newton Place, and Michener Park.

Lister Centre

With its four towers—Mackenzie, Kelsey, Henday, and Schäffer Hall—Lister Centre is the largest undergraduate residence complex in Canada. The fourth hall, Schäffer, was opened in 2003 to accommodate the influx of students. Lister Centre has over 1800 students who call the residence their home.

Opportunities and challenges exist with a student population this size, so developing and utilizing community-based programs and dynamic initiatives are constantly underway. One of Lister Centre's primary goals is to help residents make a positive transition to university academic and social life.

Lister Centre has furnished single and double dormitory style rooms. Each residence floor is a manageable co-ed community of approximately 30 to 40 students. A Floor Coordinator or Residence Assistant is responsible for welcoming newcomers and orienting them to campus life.

A meal plan is an added benefit for residents. Lister Centre provides residents with a number of dining and snacking choices:

Lister residents can use their meal card in all Aramark (the University of Alberta food services company) facilities on campus.
The meal card can also be used at select locations in the Students' Union Building.

HUB (Housing Units Building)

HUB's cosmopolitan energy makes it one of the University's most popular meeting places. In addition to approximately 50 shops, restaurants, and services that run along the almost four-block central concourse, HUB is a central point that connects several academic buildings, Rutherford Library, and the University Light Rail Transit (LRT) station.

Above the storefronts are the brightly coloured shutters of apartments that open out on each side of the concourse. Apartments range from bachelor to four-bedroom units and are for full-time undergraduate and graduate students. Some bachelor apartments are furnished. Apartments include a stove and a refrigerator, which allow HUB residents to prepare meals in the privacy of their homes.

International House

International House was completed in 2004 and welcomed its first residents to their furnished single dormitory-style rooms.

International House's first residents consisted of 154 graduate and undergraduate students representing 31 countries. In January 2005, the House was officially opened by Chancellor Eric Newell and Cedza Dlamini, Prince of Swaziland, grandson of Nelson Mandela and the UN Youth Ambassador for the Millennium Development Goals. University of Alberta's International House is a member of International Houses Worldwide.

Residents of International House have opportunities to share and explore cultural customs and traditions, meet world leaders, and participate in numerous social activities such as film night, dance classes, yoga, and cooking lessons. Not only does International House boast an exceptional soccer team, residents enjoy volleyball, dodge ball, and curling.

Résidence Saint-Jean

In 2001, Faculté Saint- Jean, now known as Campus Saint-Jean, gained a new residence and a renovated Academic and Cultural Centre. Its furnished single dormitory-style rooms are for students specifically enrolled at Campus Saint-Jean.

Campus Saint-Jean is located in the charming francophone section of the Bonnie Doon neighbourhood, approximately six kilometres east of the main University campus and west of Rue Marie-Ann Gaboury (91 Street) between 84 Avenue and 86 Avenue.

Connected directly to the academic building, the residence is steps away from the library and resource centre. Approximately 100 co-ed residents form a close-knit community. All residents' rooms are single occupancy with private washrooms and direct access to the Internet. Common lounges promote socializing or studying with friends. Cable TV in lounges, shared kitchen facilities, and other amenities such as laundry facilities create a home-away-from-home atmosphere. In addition to being walking distance to Bonnie Doon's varied shopping, recreational, and social opportunities, Campus Saint-Jean is close to the Old Strathcona and Mill Creek communities, which have an eclectic mix of businesses, shops, restaurants, cafés, and pubs.

A shuttle bus takes Campus Saint-Jean students to and from the main University campus.

Augustana

With expansion and partnerships in mind, Augustana University College merged with the University of Alberta in 2004. Augustana Campus is located in Camrose, which is approximately a 60-minute drive southeast from the main campus in Edmonton.

There are two residential communities at Augustana—the First-Year Complex and the Ravine Complex.

The First-Year Complex is one building that has three wings, East Hall, West Hall, and Hoyme Hall, which share a central foyer. The residence provides its 350 first-year students with numerous opportunities for academic achievement and social interaction. Each floor has a lounge for quiet visiting and studying, while two large basement lounges provide separate study and recreational spaces.

The Ravine Complex consists of six residences: Anderson, Bergh, Marken, Moi, Ronning, and Solheim Halls. These residences are clustered around a common lounge. This complex is designed for 224 students entering their second, third, and fourth years of university studies. This complex has semi-private washrooms, kitchenettes on each floor, and two lounges with fireplaces.

East Campus Village

Placed in a lovely, tree-lined older neighbourhood which is just a few minutes walk away from the main campus, East Campus Village is a residence for second-, third-, and fourth-year undergraduate or graduate students.

The unfurnished East Campus Village residences are houses and walk-ups that contain a common kitchen and living area, separate bedrooms, and shared bathrooms.

The Village's Community Centre houses computers, rental vacuum, a sewing machine, a TV room, and a games room. The diverse and popular Old Strathcona neighbourhood, with a myriad of restaurants, shops, businesses, and pubs, is just a few blocks away.

Newton Place

Newton Place balances privacy and social interaction, which is essential to making living in a university residence appealing. The Newton Place Residents' Association (NPRA) provides diverse programming for all its residents.

Unfurnished bachelor, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments are for senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or student couples (only one of whom needs to be a student attending the University).

Not only is Newton Place one block from the main campus, it has two ground level restaurants, a hair salon, and a Community Centre. Behind the building are a beach volleyball court and a courtyard, making it the perfect place to relax or play during the summer months.

Michener Park

Michener Park, which consists of townhouses, walk-ups, and a high-rise apartment building, is located on 122 Street between 51 Avenue and Whitemud Drive. This site provides housing for student couples and students with families.

The townhouses are two- and three-bedroom units with individual yards. The walk-ups have two bedrooms and the high-rise Vanier House apartments are all one-bedroom units with lofts.

As a family-oriented residence, Michener Park has: a furniture exchange, a video rental room, a steam cleaner, laundry facilities, a computer room, a study room, a children's playground, support groups, organized activities, a community garden, and a community room for get-togethers.

Importantly, there are designated quiet times to help residents concentrate on their studies. Michener Park has excellent bus connections to the University and is close to elementary, junior, and senior high schools, shopping malls, and parks.

To find out more about the University of Alberta residences, please visit the website.