Campus Planning Initiatives

BCIT has been updating many of its washroom stalls to be all-gender facilities.

All-gender washrooms are available to anyone no matter their gender. These types of washrooms are either single-occupancy or multi-stall.

Adding additional all-gender washrooms is a part of our Institute of commitment to equity and inclusion for all students, staff members, and other campus users. We are striving to create a campus environment that is a modern, welcoming, and where no one is excluded from essential facilities. Changes that reduce barriers to access essential facilities for all populations including gender-diverse folks, also improve for all other users. The Respect Diversity and Inclusion Office and Campus Planning and Facilities have consulted extensively with campus stakeholders and independent consultant to develop a plan for the Institute. This will add to the existing accessible facilities on our campuses.

• Download a Map of Existing All-Gender Facilities [PDF]

Learn more about All-Gender Washroom Upgrades

BCIT is making improvements to accessible parking across the Burnaby campus. These improvements include relocating accessible parking close to the campus core and improving existing accessible parking access. Recent examples include improving the accessible stalls in front of SW1 and in P5 Lot.

Campus Planning has been refreshing indoor social spaces to support student engagement and sense of community. Recent examples include the new student commons as part of the new Health Expansion Project at SE12. The commons have a variety of spaces for individual and group study, access to technology, and opportunities for the collaboration and socialization. The cafeteria in SE40 has also been refreshed with new paint and furnishings. The café is now bright and a social hub for staff and students who are in SE40, SE41, and SE42.

This past year, Campus Planning has been piloting new office furniture and meeting spaces.  The Office Furniture Guidelines support modern and quality furniture to improve workplace culture and the well-being of employees. These guidelines aim to reflect the changing nature of office work by supporting new communications technologies, ergonomic designs, and spaces that encourage a range of working styles. In addition, Campus Planning has been piloting new meeting room pods that could be placed in open areas. The pilot pod has been well-received and will be considered in new capital projects. 

Campus Planning is actively creating vibrant and engaging campus areas to improve memorable spaces on campus. Social interactions on campus can boost the sense of belonging and community. The Burnaby campus has several contemporary places such as Beedie Plaza, integrated outdoor patios in the NW4 Health Sciences Building where students can connect, relax, and recharge.  

Also, new outdoor furniture has been deployed around campus, which includes café-style seating with umbrellas, Adirondack lounge chairs, new picnic tables, and ping pong tables. An example of the recently refreshed furniture is in the courtyard outside the Rix Café at SE2 is a lovely spot to relax and socialize. The café-style space is surrounded by apple trees on the walls of the courtyard, blueberry bushes, and an aquatic garden. 

Over the years, BCIT grounds have been reimagined to become more coherent and aesthetically pleasing. Landscaping improvements on campus actively support stormwater management and reduce the impacts of climate change. Recent initiatives include adding new trees, native plantings, rain gardens, and landscaping elements in the areas facing Willington Ave as well as along Beedie Plaza. Campus Planning takes the opportunity to integrate ecological restoration work when designing new landscaping areas, such as the daylighting of Guichon Creek by SE16. 

Campus Planning has worked with indigenous artist Kelly Cannell to installed a new mural depicting a seascape and skyscape of the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations has been completed at NE06, the BCIT Burnaby Campus. Kelly’s beautiful piece entitled ‘The Keepers of the Land’ represents a variety of forms.

Campus Planning is implementing the BCIT Transportation Demand Management Strategy to enhance sustainable transportation options for the campus community. BCIT provides various cycling facilities across its campuses. This includes bike lockers, bike racks, indoor bike storage, shared bike tools, and after-trip facilities. In 2024, Campus Planning installed a new covered bike rack next to SE40. In 2025, another covered bike rack is being planned next to NE20. Indoor bike facilities for staff and students are available in NW4, and indoor bike facilities at the new Tall Timbers Student Housing and the Student Housing Townhome Complex will serve campus residents.

Campus Planning, working with McElhanney Ltd. has implemented new safety improvements at Ford Avenue, Wayburne Drive, and Lot E. To improve safety for pedestrians crossing the street while addressing traffic flow at the intersection, the pedestrian crossing was shortened, and sidewalks were redesigned.  The improvements also included new pavement markings, installation of flexible yellow pylons, and new signage. 

In 2025, Campus Planning updated wayfinding map pylons and installed low-building ID pylon signs on the Burnaby Campus to help students physically navigate around campus. In addition to improving wayfinding on campus grounds, Campus Planning has created interactive wayfinding maps and a geospatial library to help students and visitors digitally navigate all the BCIT campuses. The online map platform is accessible from any desktop or mobile device.  

Campus Planning has recently installed a BCIT landmark sign in the heart of the Burnaby campus. The sign is a part of enhancing the campus identity and placemaking.   This sign helps to define the campus character and can be a source of community engagement.