Furniture that works: Atlantic Business Interiors and NSCC’s student housing at Ivany Campus

Client:

Nova Scotia Community College

Sector:

Education

Area:

3 buildings, 5 floors each, 200–300 student capacity

When Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) prepared to open three new residence buildings in Dartmouth, each five stories high and designed to accommodate 200–300 students, Atlantic Business Interiors was chosen as the trusted partner for all study and lounge furniture. This project marked another milestone in our ongoing relationship with NSCC, a partnership that began in 2014.

Since 2014, we have supported NSCC as their main supplier of furniture, providing solutions for classrooms, offices, and, more recently, student housing. This longstanding relationship is built on reliability, consistent quality, and a deep understanding of NSCC’s evolving needs. Over the years, NSCC has expanded its student residence offerings from just one building to 6 across the province, and Atlantic Business Interiors has furnished many of them, including the most recent project in Dartmouth.

Our standing offer agreement with NSCC gives them access to preferred pricing and standardized products, allowing for efficient procurement and predictable budgeting.

We work closely with NSCC’s project management team to review layouts, recommend solutions, and ensure that every detail meets their expectations. In this project, as with previous ones, NSCC’s team arrived with clear standards and a well-defined vision.

Our process is designed to minimize disruptions and maximize efficiency. We coordinated closely with construction contractors and project managers to schedule deliveries and installations according to the build timeline. By keeping open lines of communication, we helped prevent delays and quickly resolved any unexpected challenges, ensuring that everything was student-ready for move-in day.

Designing around the student experience

For the student rooms, we provided ergonomic task chairs, side chairs, and versatile tables that function both as workspaces and dining surfaces. In the lounge areas, we installed durable, easy-to-clean seating finished in healthcare-grade vinyl. To support accessibility, we equipped barrier-free rooms with height-adjustable tables. NSCC’s commitment to quality and student comfort led us to facilitate hands-on sampling for lounge furniture. We coordinated with manufacturers to deliver prototypes with different levels of firmness, allowing the NSCC team to test and select the ideal option for students. This attention to detail ensured the final furniture was comfortable, functional, and built to last.

One of the unique aspects of this project was the emphasis on Canadian-made products. We sourced most of the furniture from leading Canadian brands such as Spec, Global, and Allseating. Our status as a registered dealer for these brands enabled us to offer NSCC better quote and access to preferred product lines, a competitive advantage that contributes to both budget control and quality assurance.

The successful delivery of the NSCC Ivany Campus residences was recognized beyond the college itself. The Government of Nova Scotia highlighted the project in an official announcement, describing the new housing as a major step forward in supporting students and addressing the province’s housing needs. The government’s post underscored the importance of safe, comfortable accommodations and marked the opening as part of a broader strategy to enhance student life and success. You can read the government’s announcement here.

Feedback from NSCC’s project management and facilities teams has been overwhelmingly positive. They appreciate our responsiveness, our understanding of their requirements, and our ability to deliver on time, every time. As new student residences are planned in the coming years, Atlantic Business Interiors remains a preferred partner, ready to provide expertise, service, and solutions that help NSCC create comfortable, inspiring spaces for students across Nova Scotia.

Atlantic Business Interiors is proud to play a part in shaping the student experience at NSCC. By combining industry knowledge, project management expertise, and a focus on quality, we ensure that every student residence is ready for learning, living, and community.

If you're planning new student housing or refreshing existing spaces, Atlantic Business Interiors can help you move faster with confidence. With a strong supply network, local teams, and years of experience in student residence furniture, we help campuses create environments where students feel ready to live, learn, and thrive.