## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/index%2Ephp/) 2. [News and Stories](/index%2Ephp/news) 3. [By students for students: new exhibition of housing solutions from industry partnership](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/3892) November 11, 2025 # By students for students: new exhibition of housing solutions from industry partnership ![Design students standing in experimental housing unit](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/2025-11/Photos_01_02_07_11.jpg.webp?itok=U8GgFqZ9) From left to right: Anna Tran, Lia Sardella, Ajay Woolery, Ana Jain and Alessandra Mercado. Photo by OCAD U LiVE. rgb(255,255,255) Five OCAD University Environmental Design students who participated in a pilot project to develop practical student housing solutions will showcase their prototypes in a new exhibition. On view from Nov. 17 to 21, the [*OCADU x FORUM: Designed by Students for Students*](https://www.ocadu.ca/events-and-exhibitions/ocadu-x-forum-designed-students-students) exhibition follows a collaboration between the Design4 program at OCAD U's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers and real estate developer Forum Asset Management. The initiative tasked the emerging designers with improving the practicality and comfort of double-occupancy student residences. The industry-first partnership allowed OCAD U students to gain hands-on experience working with Canada’s largest developer of student housing while addressing livability in smaller student residences. Students Ana Jain, Alessandra Mercado, Lia Sardella, Anna Tran and Ajay Woolery were given schematics for [ALMA @ Cabbagetown](https://forumam.com/real-estate/alma-cabbagetown-toronto), Forum’s upcoming Toronto student housing development, and asked to rethink the space not just as emerging professional designers, but as members of the demographic who might live in these residences. The resulting millwork (custom-made furniture and decorative pieces) will be on view in the lobby of 100 McCaul St. on OCAD U’s campus. The exhibition space will mimic the units in ALMA @ Cabbagetown, allowing visitors to journey through a simulated residence and preview the future of student housing. “This partnership positions OCAD U as a leader in design, bridging education and industry,” said Associate Professor Neal Prabhu, who served as the project liaison and exhibition co-ordinator. “It provides emerging designers a unique opportunity to enhance the future student living experience.” The prototypes were designed under the theme “durability with dignity,” drawing from the design team’s lived experiences of bland, characterless residences poorly suited to students’ needs. To address these concerns, the new designs focus on modularity and space-saving, making use of customizable storage, sliding privacy screens and foldable workspaces. “As a student who has experienced the realities of small-space living, it was empowering to advocate for spaces that are not only functional but also caring and inclusive,” said Mercado, one of the student designers. “This experience reminded me that thoughtful design isn’t just about form or aesthetics — it’s about meeting real needs with intention, empathy and imagination.” Following the exhibition, the students’ designs will be incorporated into future student suites. Building on the success of the pilot project, future iterations of the collaboration between Forum and OCAD U are already underway. “For the first time, we’ve brought emerging designers and future residents directly into the design process. Their ideas weren’t just considered — they helped shape the outcome. The result is more relevant, functional and thoughtful student housing — truly designed by students, for students,” said Aly Damji, managing partner, real estate at Forum and a member of the OCAD U Board of Governors. “We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together and look forward to continuing the partnership.” OCAD U students are invited by Forum to [complete a survey ](https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=5rhWeGC9dUGOzlWpflzowv7byD2vl7lHs2EjB0V5IL9UM0xOVUpGTThWTE5LU0c1VFU3UlNHMTJLWC4u&route=shorturl)regarding their housing preferences. Each respondent will be compensated with a $10 gift card. ## Other Recent News [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. 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