Conestoga College seeks partner for its downtown Kitchener housing project

Conestoga College planned to turn a Kitchener building into student housing, but falling enrollment forced the school to pivot. CTV’s Jeff Pickel explains.

The real estate shakeup continues at Conestoga College.

The school now said it is looking for a partner for its 22 Frederick Street project in downtown Kitchener.

Conestoga College purchased the property across the street from its brand-new Market Place campus in 2023. At that time, the plan was to retrofit the 12-storey office tower into student apartments.

Fast-forward to 2026 and the downtown campus is closed, while work on the student residence remains incomplete.

“In the case of 22 Frederick, Conestoga College has issued a non-binding Request for Expressions of Interest to explore a joint venture opportunity,” read a statement from Tim Schill, the school’s vice-president of facilities, capital development, risk, safety and security.

The college said the project is 70 per cent done and they are “seeking a qualified partner who will contribute capital and bring a compelling operating vision that helps to positively shape and advance downtown Kitchener’s next phase of growth.”

Conestoga College went on a real estate buying spree when international student enrollment exploded in the first few years of the decade. Pivoting on the Frederick Street project is just the latest move by the school to keep pace with the shifting post-secondary landscape.

Mayor Berry Vrbanovic called the loss of Conestoga College in downtown Kitchener unfortunate but remains hopeful about the future of 22 Frederick Street.

“From the thousands of students we have in Waterloo Region, and the proximity of this building to the ION, it would certainly be a great student residence,” he said. “It could also be a home for older adults who are looking to downsize when they’re at that stage in life.”