Major Institutional Projects Process

Major institutional projects are projects on the UBC academic campus that significantly impact the built environment due to their size or footprint. Typically, these are new academic buildings, student residences, or athletic facilities.

Learn more about the Development Permit (DP) application process for major institutional projects below:

Step 1: Pre-Application Project Preparation

  • Site Selection process with C&CP as per Campus Plan protocol
  • Design Brief prepared by University Architect for inclusion with proposal call for prime consultants
  • Project’s sustainability priorities identified by senior UBC technical staff
  • Early identification of servicing requirements
  • Site selection endorsed by Site Selection Committee
  • Preliminary project site endorsement by the Property and Planning Advisory Committee
  • Executive 1, 2, 3 Approvals
  • Short-list of Architects prepared

Step 2: Board 1 Approval

  • Will include project location, program, preliminary budget and schedule 

Step 3: Design Team selection 

  • Architect
  • Landscape architect
  • Other (geotechnical/construction)

Step 4: C&CP + Utilities Staff Pre-Application Review Meeting with Project Manager and Design Team

  • Application approval process and timelines
  • Application submission requirements
  • Alignment with policy (Land Use Plan, Vancouver Campus Plan), planning guidelines and University Architect’s Design Brief
  • Clarification of site boundaries
  • Contextual issues
  • Project challenges/issues
  • Sustainability Expectations including preliminary energy modelling
  • Utility requirements and encumbrances/roadway and access issues
  • Signage policy review and discussion of other regulatory matters
  • Key processing dates and submission requirements for Advisory Urban Design Panel, Public Open House, Development Review Committee, and the Board of Governors.

Step 5: Advisory Urban Design Panel Meeting - Preliminary (Pre-Application)

  • Distribution of University Architect’s Design Brief and project proposal package to Panel members
  • Sustainability Technical Workshop with Technical Sustainability Group and project team
  • Presentation of project by proponent and design team (conceptual stage)
  • Questions and discussion by panel members
  • Comments from panel members and summary by Chair (non-voting)

Step 6: Development Permit Application Received

  • C&CP confirms complete documentation and application fee payment
  • C&CP circulates to relevant departments/agencies
  • C&CP prepares departmental evaluation based on plans/policies/regulations

Step 7: Development Review Committee

  • Presentation of project by project manager and design team
  • Questions/clarification from members
  • Issues to be resolved/conditions for DP

Step 8: Public Notice

  • Install DP application sign on site noting Public Open House time and place
  • Post application and online feedback formon Campus + Community Planning website
  • Circulate email notice to list-serve stakeholders
  • Publish advertisement (Vancouver Courier, Ubyssey newspapers)
  • Distribute notices to adjacent occupants as required

Step 9: Public Open House

  • Held in convenient location close to development site
  • Display of DP Drawings and scale models
  • Project Sponsor and Design Team representatives attend to answer project  questions/receive input
  • UBC staff attend to answer process/policy questions and receive feedback
  • Sign-up sheets to confirm attendance
  • Feedback forms to document comments from interested parties
  • Additional comments received by mail, email and online
  • Consultation process may be expanded as needed at discretion of C&CP

Step 10: Advisory Urban Design Panel  –  Final Application

  • Distribution of application package and University Architect’s design evaluation report 10 days before meeting
  • Package to include design rationale, context plans, full set of architectural and landscape plans and project stats
  • Comments by University Architect and presentation of project by project sponsor and design team
  • Questions from Panel members
  • Comments from Panel members
  • Panel votes on recommendation for: support/non-support/support with conditions

Step 11: Preparations for Board 2

  • C&CP summarizes feedback to applicants identifying any outstanding issues requiring resolution prior to DP issuance
  • Applicants prepare and submit revised plans
  • C&CP Coordinating Code Consultants selected
  • C&CP contributes comments to Board 2 report evaluating project and summarizing public input

Step 12: Board of Governors’ Board 2 Approval

  • Authorizes the Director of Planning, Development Services to issue a Development Permit

Step 13: Director of Planning Issues Development Permit

  • C&CP receives final set of revised plans after resolving any outstanding issues with applicant for attachment to Permit
  • Includes conditions to be satisfied prior to Building Permit or Occupancy Permit issuance
  • Approved plans attached
  • Expires in 1 year unless project construction substantially commenced
  • Any revision to plans (e.g. exterior building and landscape) or use following approval requires a DP Amendment