Campus Buildings
Arbutus Building
The Arbutus Building (7A) houses academic classrooms (Arbutus 101, 102 and 103), administrative offices, a computer lab, and a canteen operated by Truffles. The space is used for graduate level classes.
The Boathouse and Waterfront
This building is situated on campus at the edge of Esquimalt Lagoon. It was constructed in 1989 and a specialized dock was completed the following year. In 2007 renovations to the Boathouse were completed and the space became the new home of Royal Roads University Foundation. The Go Rowing and Paddling Association of Canada also runs rowing activities out of the rowing centre next door.
CEDAR Building
This building evolved from two original buildings on the Dunsmuir estate. Extensive renovation of the two buildings by the Department of National Defence converted the buildings into laboratories and classrooms for physics and oceanography. In 1998, the building was refurbished to house state-of-the-art research and computer laboratory facilities. Little of the original buildings, a Tudor-style dairy and cattle barns, can be seen.
Gate House
The Gate House (or White House) is an administrative centre for the Conferences and Events Department.
Grant Building
The Grant Building is the University's main academic building, with class space for 1,800 learners, science labs, cafeteria, study area and faculty offices. The Grant Building was built in 1942 and named after the first Commanding Officer of HMCS Royal Roads, Captain John Moreau Grant.
In the summer of 2003, the Grant building re-opened following a two-year, $8 million renovation that re-configured classrooms, upgraded technology and improved energy efficiency and access for people with handicaps.
Grounds and Gardens
The Royal Roads campus encompasses 565 acres of breathtaking beauty just outside the city of Victoria on Vancouver Island. We are located on the shores of Juan de Fuca Strait overlooking the Olympic Mountains in a park that has been designated a National Historic Site by the federal government. Our grounds include three renowned formal gardens (the Italian, the Japanese and the Rose garden) and an old growth forest. Our campus is criss-crossed by walking, cycling and hiking trails and is home to peacocks, deer and other wildlife. Our grounds and gardens are open daily for the public to enjoy.
Hatley Castle
Hatley Castle, a designated federal heritage building, was originally the home of James Dunsmuir, Premier and Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia in the early 1900s. The castle is now the administrative centre of Royal Roads University and the site of teaching activity for executive development programs.
Library (Coronel Building)
Officially opened in November 1974, the architectural award-winning library building was dedicated to four members of the first class of the Royal Naval College of Canada established at Esquimalt, who were lost in action during the Battle of Coronel in 1914. The Library has an extensive collection of print, media, and electronic resources to support the University's unique programs. It is also a member of the Electronic Library Network and the Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries.
The Mews Conference Centre
A heritage building, the Mews was built in 1912 as James Dunsmuir's stables and garage. Converted first to classrooms and dormitory space, it was later turned into the officer-cadets' social centre. The renovated centre contains more than 6,000 square feet of meeting space including four main conference rooms (the largest seating 200 persons), and five smaller breakout rooms.
Millward Building
The Millward Building contains the Campus Security Office, Computer Services and short-term graduate/undergraduate student dorm rooms.
This extension to the Nixon Building was opened in 1991 and named after the first Air Force Commandant to serve at the former Royal Roads Military College.
Nixon Building
The Nixon Building contains classrooms, short-term graduate/undergraduate student residences and accommodations for conference guests. It was officially opened in 1955 by the Princess Royal and was named after the Commanding Officer of the Royal Naval College of Canada when it was re-established in Esquimalt in 1918.
Recreation Centre
The sports complex was built between 1942 and 1957 by the military. Now renovated, it is managed by Royal Roads University. Facilities include a gymnasium, weight room, fitness studio and two squash courts. Two outdoor tennis courts are located nearby.
Rose Garden Cottage
Rose Garden Cottage is situated on Library Road between the Library and the Mews, just north of the Rose Garden. Once the site of the gardener's root house of the Dunsmuir family estate, then a gardener's staff room and equipment storage shed, the Rose Garden Cottage is now an administrative center for RRU. It is also a showpiece of environmental sustainability. The new foundation was largely hand dug in order to preserve the roots of nearby trees. Soil compaction was also minimized to avoid disrupting root systems. The foundation itself was made from a mixture of recycled glass and sand, which is less expensive than traditional aggregates and helps create a demand for recycled products. The manufacturer will recycle the carpet when it is worn out and the wood flooring is made of recycled by-products.
