West Campus Parking Lot Expansion
273 Additional Spaces
Improved Safety Features
Stormwater Retention Enhancements
Project Summary
Western is expanding the West Campus Parking Lot to meet growing demand and preserve parking capacity, as outlined in the Long-Range Space Plan. The addition of new academic buildings have displaced many parking spaces, and EV chargers have replaced over 60 parking spaces last year.
The existing 206-space lot will expand by 273 spaces, totaling 479. Work includes repaving, new curbs, lighting, sidewalks, catch basins, and improved drainage to an expanded stormwater retention pond. It also reinstates access to Springett Lot and adds an emergency access road to Elborn College Lot.
The project aligns with Western’s 2018 Open Space Strategy, which promotes locating parking at the edges of campus to enhance a pedestrian-friendly core.
The plan was approved by the Property & Finance Committee (June 3rd, 2025) and the Board of Governors (June 26th, 2025).
Commitment to the environment
Western partnered with MTE Consultants Inc. for engineering and environmental assessments by biologists and ecologists. Project elements of note include:
- Avoidance of vegetation clearing during migratory bird breeding season (April 1 to August 31), in compliance with regulations under the Migratory Birds Convention Act.
- Environmental consultants will survey and relocate any affected bird nesting boxes.
- 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 "no natural ecological land classification (ELC) communities were identified within the Site."
- For every tree removed, at least one new tree will be planted.
Safety at the forefront
This expansion supports 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.
Key safety features will include:
- New light posts along Brescia Drive and throughout the existing lot to improve visibility and safety.
- Realigned and extended sidewalks along Brescia Drive to maintain a grass buffer between pedestrians and traffic.
- A new road and sidewalk connecting Brescia Drive to the Springett Parking Lot to address traffic flow and congestion on Western Road.
- New traffic calming measures along Brescia Drive, including speed humps and reduced speed limit to 30 km/h.
- Two new 3-way intersections -- one at Brescia Drive and the new connector road and the other at the connector road and the Springett Lot -- to regulate traffic flow and elevate pedestrian safety.
- 360° cameras installed in the Springett Lot and the expanded lot, based on safety recommendations from Western Special Constable Service.
- A paved emergency access road connecting the expanded lot to Elborn College Lot allowing for emergency vehicle access.
2025 Renewal Projects
Each year, Facilities Management identifies areas for improvements to infrastructure and campus community safety. Though not always correlated, there tends to be elements of both when renewal projects are evaluated. Along with the West Campus Lot expansion, similar 2025 hard-surface enhancement projects include:
Chemistry Lot Renewal
Resurfacing and reconfiguration to enhance accessible parking availability.
Oxford Drive Concrete Repairs
Repouring of hard-surfaces, where sections have heaved and cracked.
Pedestrian safety initiatives are outlined in Western's Open Space Strategy.
West Campus Parking Lot Expansion Location
The current Lot is located on Brescia Drive, between Elborn College and Springett Parking Lot.
