Thunderbird residence repairs

Thunderbird Residence

To maintain, improve and expand our campus facilities to continue to provide a strong student experience, construction, renovation and repair work at UBC is an everyday activity.

Thunderbird residence, which opened approximately 30 years ago in 1995, requires a number of repairs to the building envelope to maintain a good quality of living for residents.

Repairs began in May 2024 in the 2000 block (Monashee), with repairs in the 4000 block (Coast) and 5000 block (Hazelton) taking place in summer 2025. Repairs in the 1000 block (Cassiar) and the 3000 block (Selkirk) are proceeding in summer 2026. Additional repair work in the 2000 block (Monashee) is now planned for summer 2027.

Applying to live at Thunderbird?

If you’re planning to add Thunderbird residence to your preferences in your residence application, you should know that residents of this area will likely be impacted by this ongoing repair/renovation project. We want you to make an informed decision when you apply.

Project details

Schedule and locations

  • May–August 2024: primary repairs completed in 2000 block (Monashee).
  • May–August 2025: repairs completed in 4000 block (Coast) and 5000 block (Hazelton).
  • May–August 2026: repairs completed in 1000 block (Cassiar) and 3000 block (Selkirk).
  • May–August 2027: additional repair work completed in the 2000 block (Monashee).

Repairs will primarily take place within the confines of the residence block courtyards.

Please note that in each repair period, we anticipate some some construction-related setup work will take place prior to May and lower-impact work will continue past August into the early-fall. Residents in any units impacted by an extension into the fall will be communicated with directly.

Map

Summer 2026 construction timeline

March 2026: Site preparation and scaffolding installation begins in 1000 block (Cassiar) and 3000 block (Selkirk).
May 2026: Repairs begin in the 1000 Block (Cassiar) and the 3000 block (Selkirk).
Late August 2026: Primary repairs are expected to be complete.
Early fall 2026: Some lower-impact work will continue into the early fall.

Ongoing schedule

Construction typically occurs during UBC’s standard approved hours of work: Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–7 pm, and Saturday, 9 am–5 pm.
Some workers will arrive on-site before the construction start time to begin getting ready for their day.

Construction hours may be extended (e.g., earlier start time; extended to Sundays) to ensure the project is completed on time.

Noise and disruptions for Thunderbird residents

Residents of Thunderbird should expect to hear noise, primarily from the operation of handheld construction tools and equipment, but also from some heavy equipment and industrial traffic.

There will also be some access changes within Thunderbird, along with an increased level of dust. Vehicle traffic disruptions in the area may occur, but will be limited.

  • 1000 block (Cassiar) and 3000 block (Selkirk) residents who are not being relocated will experience construction noise and increased levels of dust. Some residents will also experience temporary changes to building access, including the building elevator, which will not provide access to levels 3 and 4.
  • 2000 block (Monashee) and 4000 block (Coast) residents are likely to experience some construction noise, given their proximity to the 1000 and 3000 blocks.
  • 5000 block (Hazelton) residents may experience some moderate construction noise.

In general, residents will be less affected if their units do not face directly toward the repair/renovation area and if their access is not rerouted by the repair work.

As you are likely aware, construction at UBC is an everyday activity, and safe, prudent construction practices are always followed. Nevertheless, while UBC can reduce the impact to residents and the campus community, it cannot be avoided altogether.

Questions?

Are you offering a discount?
Construction at UBC, including renovations and repairs, is an everyday occurrence that we should all be prepared for—and that the UBC community will ultimately benefit from. Students living in 2000, 3000 and 4000 blocks (Monashee, Selkirk and Coast) at Thunderbird are not eligible for discounted fees during the repairs. Students living in the 1000 and 3000 blocks (Cassiar and Selkirk) will receive specific information, which will depend on whether they need to relocate for the duration of the work or not.
How noisy will my room be?
While noise from the repair work will be kept within reasonable limits, every person responds to noise and disruption differently. With that in mind, we cannot anticipate how noisy your particular room will be or how the noise will affect you.
Will any units not be affected?
Any resident of Thunderbird might experience some noise disruptions in their unit or another part of their residence area.
Will some residents need to move out?
We have identified a number of rooms/units in the 1000 and 3000 blocks (Cassiar and Selkirk) that will be affected to such a degree that we will need to relocate the residents to a comparable room/unit elsewhere. We have contacted these residents directly.
Are there any safety concerns?
Safe, prudent construction practices are always followed, and residents who will be living in Thunderbird while repairs are taking place are asked to observe any and all signage and guidance. Additionally, the repair work being carried out is to the building envelope (i.e., the building components that separate the indoors from the outdoors, such as exterior walls) to protect the building from the environment. No areas at Thunderbird were identified as imminent safety concerns.
What resources are available for residents who feel adversely impacted by the repair work?
  • Free ear plugs will be available for students at the Thunderbird front desk.
  • If, after making efforts to reduce the impact of repair work, a student still feels excessively impacted by the work, they may have the option to be temporarily relocated.

Have additional questions? Email thunderbirdrepairs@housing.ubc.ca.