Ontario Construction News staff writer
Full Sail University leaders officially broke ground on the institution’s new student housing development, Dream Lofts, during a ceremony marking the start of construction on the first phase of the project, which is expected to open in 2028.
University leadership and development partners held a ceremony on the active construction site, where Full Sail University Chief of Staff Vernon Rainwater opened the ceremony with remarks before introducing President Garry Jones.
“This new student housing community will allow Full Sail students to reside closer than ever to the heart of campus life, which is amazing,” he said. “As we look ahead to the first phase of completion and to future phases that will expand this community even further, we’re not just building houses, we’re building a vibrant community for generations of students to come.”
He added that the design of Dream Lofts is intended to reflect student needs, from individual unit layouts to shared spaces designed for living, learning and collaboration.
Attendees also heard from Ian McCook, co-founder of Terian Group, the development firm behind the project, along with Geoff Rogers, executive vice president at Full Sail University who presented digital renderings of the planned residential community, offering a first look at interior and exterior spaces.
Visualizations show modern shared study and lounge areas, including open-concept rooms with seating clusters, bookshelves and stair-connected gathering spaces, as well as larger communal rooms designed for group study and collaboration. Additional renderings highlighted a fitness centre, resort-style swimming pool and landscaped outdoor courtyard featuring palm trees and student gathering areas.
Dream Lofts will include about 180 units and 570 beds, offering one- to four-bedroom apartment layouts. The five-storey residential complex will be linked directly to campus via a pedestrian walkway bridge spanning University Boulevard.
“While today is certainly about breaking ground, it’s also about the student experience,” Rogers said. “From the layout of each unit to the shared spaces throughout the residential community, this development is built to support how our students live, learn, and create.”
