Current students, faculty, and staff
OCAD University design students are helping a real estate developer create more affordable and practical student housing solutions.
As part of a pilot project between the Design4 program from OCAD U's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers and real estate developer Forum Asset Management, five students were tasked with transforming single-occupancy units into comfortable and efficient double-occupancy student residences.
The new partnership allows emerging designers studying at OCAD U to gain hands-on experience working in an evolving industry while addressing a critical issue facing Canadian society.
From Feb. to March 2025, the five students were given floor plans and schematics for ALMA @ Cabbagetown, Forum’s upcoming Toronto student housing development, and asked to approach the project from a social perspective: they were to rethink the space not just as emerging professional designers, but as part of the demographic who would be living in these residences. The resulting increase in spatial efficiency would allow suites that traditionally housed a single student to become double-occupancy units.
“I had the opportunity to conceptualize spaces that reflect the lived experiences and everyday needs of students,” said Anna Tran, one of the student designers participating in the initiative. “The project was a great bridge between school and practice. It was rewarding to be part of something that may shape how future students live, work and connect.”
The design team unified their work under the theme “durability with dignity”, drawing from anecdotes of bland, characterless residences often poorly suited to students’ needs. In response, they envisioned living spaces that are functional, affordable, aesthetically pleasing and accessible. Many of the proposed solutions centred on modularity, such as customizable storage and foldable workspaces.
“We developed a series of all-in-one living units tailored to the needs of students. These integrated pieces combine beds with built-in storage, customizable mood lighting and accessories that enhance the sense of space within compact environments,” says Ajay Woolery, one of the students who participated in the project. “The units were designed to withstand the rigours of daily use, with components that could be easily repaired, replaced or reconfigured over time. This ensures that the solution remains sustainable and cost-effective for long-term residence life.”
The students were mentored by Associate Professor Neal Prabhu, who served as the faculty liaison for the duration of the pilot project. The team was paid for their work and given complete creative control while learning to work within the realistic constraints of a commercial client.
“Forum encouraged us to think outside the box — they did not want to hold us back in our creative process,” said student designer Lia Sardella. “It was both a wonderful opportunity and a challenge for us, since the brief centred around the growing industry of small housing and micro-units.”
OCAD U’s partnership with Forum is a tangible example of the University’s commitment to leveraging its status as a hub for creative talent that contributes to public policy and economic development. The initiative was championed by Aly Damji, managing partner, real estate at Forum and a member of the OCAD U Board of Governors.
“The designers’ creativity and insight have allowed us to develop a product that is truly for students, by students — a reflection of their needs, experiences and aspirations for future student living,” said Damji.
Prototypes of the student-designed millwork and furniture are currently in production. An exhibition of the students’ conceptual residences is currently in development, with future iterations of the collaboration between Forum and OCAD U already underway.