Places around the College

Fairmont Social Lounge

With its high cathedral ceilings, excellent acoustics, fireplace, baby_ grand piano and polished concrete floor, the Social Lounge is our most versatile space and is used for lectures, concerts, workshops, lunches and fireside chats, receptions, seminars, coffee houses, and more.

This lounge is named in recognition of the generous leadership and gift from Johannean Robert C.F. Ho, founder of the Fairmont Foundation and the Fairmont-Magsaysay Group of Companies. While he was President of the St. John’s University Alumni Association of Hong Kong, Ho initiated the First World Reunion of Johanneans in Hong Kong in 1988. It was during the reunion that the concept of St. John’s College UBC was introduced as part of the reestablishment of St. John’s University of Shanghai.

“Meet Me at the Clock Tower”

The clock tower acts as a meeting place for the Johanneans of St. John’s College and is a place for people from all over the world to join each other and to start their journeys together. It was designed to resemble the clock tower of St. John’s University in Shanghai, China. In 2012, the Chinese characters 聖約翰學院, meaning St. John’s College, were added to the clock tower, in recognition of the tie between St. John’s College at UBC and the graduates of St. John’s University in Shanghai who founded our College in 1997. Learn more about the clock tower here.

The courtyard is a peaceful place for residents to take a break outdoors. During the summer, it’s a great spot for the College to host picnics or barbeques, and the perfect place for enjoying the snow in the winter months.

SJC Alumni Hall

The Alumni Hall (1081) houses selected items from the College’s collection of memorabilia and archival materials from St. John’s University, Shanghai, China; the SJU Alumni associations; and St. John’s College UBC.

van der Linden Dining Hall 

Our dining hall is an integral part of life at the college as the hub where people experience “the world around our table.” It is over the dinner table where friendships are formed, and cross-cultural exchange and learning take place. Chef Clarence Tay and his team offer diverse dinner menus to reflect our diverse community and include abundant homemade entrees, vegetarian alternatives, and luxurious desserts.

Members of the university community, as well as the general public, are welcome to join us for dinner and participate in table conversation – or just enjoy some great food! The Van der Linden Dining Hall and the Faimont Social Lounge have over 100 flags surrounding the rooms that represent the countries of the residents who have lived in our community over the years. Floating about the tables are over 1,000 paper boats that are part of  art installation entitled, Waterscapes – Johannean Journeys.  Our community is made up graduate students, post doctoral fellows and visiting scholars from all over the world, and there is usually a lively discussion happening somewhere in the dining hall.

The dining hall is named in recognition of the generous contribution of Mrs. Pearl van der Linden and her late husband Art in helping establish St. John’s College UBC. Their significant gift from the Art and Pearl van der Linden Foundation will provide a legacy of international learning, opportunity and co-operation for our residents.