West Campus Parking Lot Expansion

Project Summary

This project preserves current parking capacity and meets rising demand due to campus growth outlined in the Long-Range Space Plan. New academic buildings have displaced many stalls—some permanently—including over 60 replaced by EV chargers added last year.

The existing 206-stall lot will expand by 273 stalls, totaling 479. Work includes repaving, new curbs, lighting, sidewalks, catch basins, and improved drainage to an expanded retention pond. It also reinstates access to Springett lot and adds an emergency road to Elborn College lot.

To support campus needs, this site was prioritized. The project aligns with Western’s 2018 Open Space Strategy, which promotes edge parking to enhance a pedestrian-friendly core. Its location near Engineering, Law, Health Sciences, and Ivey makes it ideal, especially with high student demand.

The plan was approved by the Property & Finance Committee (June 3rd, 2025) and the Board of Governors (June 26th, 2025).

Commitment to the environment

• Engineering and environmental consultation was conducted by third party experts, MTE Consultants Inc.
• Consultant recommendations have led to avoiding vegetation clearing during migratory bird breeding season (April 1 to August 31) in compliance with regulations under the Migratory Birds Convention Act.
• Existing bird nesting boxes affected by the project will be surveyed and relocated under the supervision of environmental consultants.
• The Ecology Due Diligence Letter indicated that "no significant natural features are identified within the Study Area on the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) online database (2023)." It also noted that there was "no natural ecological land classification (ELC) communities were identified within the Site."
• For this project, every tree removed to facilitate construction will be replaced with at least one new tree enhancing the pedestrian experience.

Safety at the forefront

• The expansion of the West Campus Lot is consistent with the “10 Big Moves” in Western’s Open Space Strategy, which calls for locating vehicle parking at the campus edges to support a more pedestrian-focused core.
• Lighting will be further enhanced as new light posts are being installed along Brescia Drive and throughout the existing lot to improve visibility and safety.
• The sidewalk along Brescia Drive adjacent to Ivey is being realigned and extended to maintain a grass buffer between pedestrians and traffic.
• A new road and sidewalk will connect Brescia Drive to the Springett Parking Lot to address traffic flow and congestion on Western Road during peak hours. A new concrete sidewalk with transitions to hatched asphalt creates a paved, direct connection to the Springett Student lot.
• Two new 3-way intersections are being added. One at Brescia Drive and the new connector road and the other at the connector road and the Springett Lot. These are designed to regulate traffic flow and elevate pedestrian safety.
• Following recommendations by Western Special Constable Services, 360° cameras are being installed on relocated posts in Springett Lot and one camera is being added in the expanded lot.
• A paved emergency access road is being added that will connect the expanded lot to Elborn College Lot. This route allows for emergency vehicle access.