Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital to Become 1,000 Student Housing Units

In a proactive move by the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), the Royal Victoria Hospital is being revamped into a bustling and brand new student housing in Montreal. Lain dormant for a decade now, this abandoned Royal Victoria hospital is nestled on the slopes of Mount Royal. It was prominently used to provide emergency beds for the homeless during the Covid spread in Montreal. In the recent PBSA news in Montreal, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) aims to recreate this establishment into a lively housing in Montreal which can accommodate around 1000 students from around the world. This project is all set to be completed by 2030. 

As the influx of international students steadily increases amidst the globalisation in education, the construction industry has grappled with the pressing need for suitable student housing in Montreal. Repurposing the Royal Victoria Hospital into a spacious student housing alternative in Montreal is an attractive solution. The government has entrusted the esteemed Ivanhoé Cambridge group with the responsibility of thoroughly examining the project's financial and time management aspects. The prestigious group has stepped up to analyse the possibilities of this groundbreaking venture.  

Élise Proulx, Head of Economic Development in Quebec for Ivanhoé Cambridge, has shown great optimism about the project. However, she acknowledges the need to remain realistic about this project and considers the vast difference between the spatial configuration of Montreal’s spaces and the University City of Paris. The Municipal officials, including Robert Beaudry, who is responsible for urban planning for the City of Montreal, have warmly embraced the project. They recognise the change it will bring to the Montreal student housing industry altogether. The work unit devoted to developing student housing in Montreal is thrilled at the prospect of contributing to this transformative initiative, aligning perfectly with its goal of providing inter-institutional housing in the region. 

The demand for student housing in Montreal has long outrun the supply, making Royal Victoria Hospital’s rebuild project a much-awaited solution. This would help address the need to make more affordable and spacious student housing available in the city giving an array of options to the burgeoning student population. Ivanhoé Cambridge has been provided with a strict deadline. This is there, along with the decision pending on the financial parameters of the project, which is due by February 2024. The outcome of this would act as a pivotal substratum in shaping the Royal Victoria Hospital Montreal into a vibrant and thriving Montreal student housing. This would be helpful for students living near and far. It will also foster academic excellence and create an iconic landmark to enrich the fabric of the city’s dynamic cultural landscape. This establishment will be of collective benefit to the overall population and offer a seamless campus that will not just be open for students around the globe but also the Montreal residents.

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