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Category: Building Profiles

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Kitsilano Duplex Retrofit

Vancouver, BC

Residential (Small) Award

Jury Comment: Given the requirement to maintain the historic character of the neighbourhood, and the imperative to add density by creating a duplex, meeting Passive House performance at this scale is a remarkable achievement. This project should be an inspiration for others like it in Vancouver and elsewhere.

A rare Canadian example of a Passive House EnerPHit retrofit, this duplex was fashioned from a 1940s single-family home.  The original home had been in the same family since the 1950s and had recently been gifted down to the grandson and granddaughter of the original owner. They decided to convert the house into a duplex, keeping one half each, but also decided to upgrade it to meet Passive House standards.

Development in much of Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood is subject to character retention guidelines; and balancing the required upgrade to Passive House thermal performance with the need to maintain architectural heritage was very challenging. However, by choosing to renovate rather than demolish the house and build new, the owners were able to retain more than 60% of the original framing material.

This dramatically lowered the embodied carbon of the building. By adding new structure to the existing framing, it was possible to bring the house up to current structural and seismic standards, while using far less new material than would have been required in an all-new building. Less new material, also translated into less construction waste.

It was necessary to lift the house to install a new crawl space basement which acts as a mechanical room and storage space. To further reduce embodied carbon, a ‘concrete free’ basement slab was installed, constructed with two layers of 15mm plywood laid directly on rigid insulation and compacted gravel.

The completed duplex is fully electric, with both electric heating and hot water. Rough-ins for air-to-air heat pumps were also made for future space cooling if needed. As summers in Vancouver are getting warmer, space cooling may become necessary for comfort in many buildings. The duplex is expected to use approximately 14 kWh/m²/year and is Passive house certified. Triple pane PH-certified wood windows are used within a wall assembly that consists of 2×6 framing with 4” of exterior mineral wool insulation.

The house uses triple pane Passive House-certified windows and doors by VETTA Building Technologies Inc.

A Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada ductless heat pump handles heating and cooling.

Project Credits

  • Architect  DLP Architecture
  • General Contractor  Geography Contracting
  • Photos  Michael Renaud

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Gastown Child Care Centre

Vancouver, BC

Institutional (small) Award

Jury Comment: This simple and elegant project is an innovative response to the acute shortage of childcare spaces in a city experiencing rapid densification. It seems fitting that the expansive roof of an underused downtown parkade should be repurposed to serve the needs of urban families. 

The Gastown Child Care Centre is a creative response to an intriguing City of Vancouver initiative to develop child care centres on the roofs of under-utilized parkades located in the downtown core. This innovative solution features two 400m² prefabricated, 37-seat, Passive House and LEED Gold-certified child care facilities to serve the immediate needs of the local community.

The design solution focused on net-zero energy and low carbon fuel sources, as well as specifications that prioritized materials and products with Environmental Product Declarations, Healthy Building Declarations and transparent sourcing.

To optimize efficiency, economy, and repeatability, various elements of the two buildings, including the canopy, support plinth, enclosure, and outdoor play are virtually identical prefabricated components. A raised construction crane located in an alley between the two parkades allowed vehicles to pass below while prefabricated glulam structures, insulated wood cassettes, and outdoor play area components were lifted to the top of the parkades for assembly.

An elevated large-span steel platform allows surface rainwater to flow into the existing drainage system and the new structural loads are efficiently transferred to the parkade structure to avoid the need for costly seismic upgrades.

Oriented toward Burrard Inlet, with spectacular views of the North Shore Mountains, the rusty red-hued buildings, bright yellow storage sheds, bold and colourful outdoor play areas, and a multi-coloured tricycle court provide a variety of opportunities for imaginative play. An open-air bridge spans the alley between the parking structures, connecting the two child care buildings and making them one facility.

The north elevations of both child care buildings have triple-glazed windows and sliding doors by Cascadia Windows & Doors, offering large views, ample daylight and direct access to an outdoor play area, sheltered by a translucent glazed canopy.

Project Credits

  • Owner/Developer  City of Vancouver
  • Architect  Acton Ostry Architects Inc
  • General contractor  Heatherbrae Builders
  • Landscape Architect  Durante Kreuk
  • Electrical/mechanical engineer  The Integral Group
  • Structural engineer  Fast + Epp
  • Passive House Consultant  Ryder Architecture
  • Commissioning Agent  C.E.S. Engineering Ltd
  • Acoustic consultant  RWDI
  • LEED Consultant  Stantec LEED
  • Special Consultant  Environmental Solutions
  • Code Certified Professional  GHL Consultants
  • Photos  Michael Elkan Architectural Photography

Project Performance

  • Energy intensity (building and process energy) = 65.4 KWhr/m²/year
  • Energy intensity reduction relative to reference building under NECB 2011 = 68%
  • Water consumption from municipal sources = 4,357 litres/occupant/year
  • Reduction in water consumption relative to reference building under LEED = 26%
  • Construction waste diverted from landfill = 65%

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MEC Flagship Store

Vancouver, BC

Commercial-Industrial (large) Award

Jury Comment: As well as reflecting the client’s values in a refined and sophisticated way, this project also contributes positively to the public realm. Transparent facades, an elegant entrance canopy and a sidewalk level bioswale animate the street. The verdant living roof is visible from surrounding apartments.

This latest addition to the portfolio of Vancouver-based outdoor equipment retailer MEC uses architecture and interior design to embody the company’s ethos of environmental responsibility.

The store is located at the intersection of Second Avenue and Quebec Street, marking the southeast entrance to Vancouver’s Olympic village neighbourhood. Counter to the prevailing trend, the client and architect wanted to down-zone the site, so the store itself would be highly visible, rather than being integrated into the podium of a high-rise structure. The result is an elegant, eye-catching and transparent landmark as seen from street level, and a luxuriant living roof as seen from the surrounding high-rise apartments.

The building has three floors of exposed mass timber structure above grade, on top of a three-storey concrete parking garage. The building announces its environmental credentials with a cross laminated timber canopy running the full length of the entrance (south) elevation sheltering an extensive bicycle rack. The colourful interior retail spaces are clearly visible from the street through extensive storefront glazing; inverting the often-inward-looking typology of big box stores.

On the east elevation a broad Corten steel scupper discharges stormwater from the blue and green roofs, into a bioswale planter at street level. The bioswale provides additional filtration, before discharging the run off through the stormwater system into nearby False Creek. The elevational treatment continues around the corner of the building into the lane. Rather than a traditional ‘back of house’ treatment, this lane is lined with stepping Corten planters and a trellis for climbing plants; the continuous siding is broken by double height glazing that provides views into the interior atrium; and the entrance to the loading dock and parking garage is lined with murals.

Project Credits

  • Owner/Developer  Beedie Group
  • Architect  Proscenium Architecture + Interiors Inc.
  • General Contractor  Heatherbrae Builders Landscape Architect  G | ALA Gauthier + Associates
  • Electrical and mechanical engineer  Pageau Morel Structural engineer  Fast + Epp Commissioning Agent  SYSTÈMES ÉNERGIE TST INC
  • Interior Retail Designer  Aedifica Architecture + Design
  • Project Manager (previously for MEC)  Corin Flood LEED Consultant  Sebastien Garon Architecture + Design Photos  Michael Elkan Architectural Photography

Project Performance 

  • Energy intensity (building and process energy) = 82.8 KWhr/m²/year
  • Energy intensity reduction relative to reference building under ASHRAE 90.1 – 2007 = 43%
  • Water consumption from municipal sources = 2,536 litres/occupant/year
  • Reduction in water consumption relative to reference building under LEED = 46.7%
  • Recycled material content by value = 15.2%
  • Regional materials (800km radius) by value = 39.7%
  • Construction waste diverted from landfill = 80.2%

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PH1 – 1 Lonsdale Avenue

North Vancouver, BC

Commercial/Industrial (Small) Award

Jury Comment: This project is remarkable for its clarity of conception and program organization, as well as its effective utilization of a constrained site and positive contribution to the public realm. Its innovative prefabricated mass timber party wall sets a precedent, achieving Passive House certification on a zero-lot line infill site.

This is a small restaurant and office infill project in the Lower Lonsdale district of North Vancouver, originally an area of waterfront warehouses and marine service facilities, the neighbourhood has been transformed over time to a high density, mixed-use community centred on the Lonsdale Quay Market and Seabus Terminal. The consolidation of land required by the introduction of higher density zoning had left lots like this exceptionally difficult to develop.

The long-time owner of the site was eager to create a high-performance, environmentally responsible building that would set an example for others to follow.

A waiver of the on-site parking requirement made it possible to design a three-storey building, with a ground floor restaurant and two storeys of offices above, however, the 92% site coverage eliminated the possibility of an on-site staging area for materials and equipment, typically required for site construction.

The decision was made to design a prefabricated mass timber structure to Passive House standards, with structure and envelope components (including a PH-compliant zero lot line party wall) delivered by truck and assembled on site.  The design, detailing and construction sequence were optimized using an integrated design process and virtual construction modelling software.

The north wall abutting the adjacent property comprises full-height CLT panels with exterior insulation and metal cladding fastened with Cascadia clips to reduce thermal bridging.

Project Credits

  • Owner  Babco Equities Ltd
  • Architect  Hemsworth Architecture
  • Structural Engineer  Equilibrium Consulting Inc.
  • Mechanical / Electrical Engineer  MCW Consultants Ltd.
  • Civil Engineer Vector Engineering Services Ltd.
  • Geotechnical  GVH Consulting Ltd.
  • Building Code Consultant  LMDG
  • Passive House consultant  Peel Passive
  • House Consulting Ltd.
  • Landscape Architect  Prospect & Refuge
  • General Contractor  Naikoon Contracting Ltd.
  • Photos  Ema Peter

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Red Deer Polytechnic Student Residence

Red Deer, Alberta

Residential (Large) Award

Jury Comment: The project is notable for its use of sustainable features, such as the photovoltaic cladding panels, to create an architectural language.  Also notable are the multiple social spaces visible from the exterior and the exposed mass timber structure; both adding to the didactic quality of the building.

This 5,800 m², five-storey, 145-unit mass timber structure was first occupied by 300 athletes who attended the Canada Winter Games in 2019.  However, the long-term purpose of the building was always to house Red Deer Polytechnic’s growing student population. The building also functions as  a hotel, providing accommodation for short- and long-term guests, including faculty and external users. The Polytechnic’s vision was to create a building that would keep students on campus by providing recreational and social opportunities, rather than having them to drive to downtown Red Deer.  The result is a residence that offers a bright and airy interior environment with an unprecedented range of social spaces.

Although the client did not mandate the design team to achieve any green building certification, the project was designed to LEED Gold standards. With its R35 walls, R45 roof, R7 windows and Passive House Certified fibreglass curtainwall, it exceeds the prescriptive requirements of the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB).

Special attention was also given to:

  • encouraging walking within the building and discouraging use of the elevator
  • passive solar heating in winter, and operable windows for ventilation in warmer months
  • leveraging the health benefits of natural daylight, views and indoor plants,
  • energy reduction through use of 100% LED lighting and a 90% efficient HVAC system.

Exposing the soffits of the mass timber floors eliminated the need for suspended ceilings All the wood was locally harvested, milled in an Edmonton shop to minimize transportation costs and GHG impacts.

The east, west and south facades of the building are covered with a 163 kW integrated photovoltaic array that offsets approximately 40% of the annual energy consumption of the building.

The successful implementation of these diverse sustainability goals was made possible through a collaborative design approach and an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method using a multi-party contract.

The Polytechnic was well aware that isolation and lack of community support for students has a negative influence, not only on their ability to perform in the classroom, but also on their mental, physical and emotional well-being. In this context, the design team saw an opportunity to reconceptualize the typical student residence typology.

Duxton Windows and Doors supplied its high-performance fiberglass windows Series 328.

Western Archrib suppled the glulam columns and beams, and its Westdek floor panels.

The main HVAC components consists of fan coils for common areas, air handling units and chillers supplied by Daikin Applied; Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Mr. Slim P-Series ductless air conditioners; and CREST boilers by Lochinvar.

Project Credits

  • Owner/developer  Red Deer Polytechnic
  • Architect  Reimagine Architects Ltd
  • General Contractor  Clark Builders
  • Landscape Architect  Katharina Kafka Landscape Architect
  • Civil Engineer  Stantec
  • Electrical Engineer  Manasc Isaac Consulting
  • Mechanical Engineer  Smith + Andersen (Edmonton)
  • Structural engineer  RJC Engineers
  • Photos  Cooper + O’Hara

Project Performance

  • Energy intensity (building and process energy) = 70.68KWhr/m²/year
  • Energy intensity reduction relative to reference building under MNECB 2011 = 50%

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50-Unit Passive House Affordable Rental Housing

Fort St. John, BC

Residential (Large) Award

Jury Comment: A simple building with a standard floor plate, its character comes from subtle changes in geometry and refined detailing.  A cant in plan adds interest to hallways and creates central meeting places; cladding panels and vertical sunshades enliven the façades. A great low-energy prototype for affordable housing.

This six-storey building provides workforce housing for the duration of a large infrastructure project, before converting to affordable family housing for  the community. The program consists of two- and three-bedroom suites, common interior and exterior amenity spaces, fitness room, bicycle storage, outdoor playground and landscaped rain gardens. 

The plan is a simple double-loaded corridor scheme with inset stairwells, central elevators and a nine-degree crank, symmetrical through the centre of the building. This simple gesture accentuates the main entrance when viewed from the street, orients half the building façade further towards south, creates a natural break in the west façade, accommodates exterior balconies connected to common amenity rooms on each floor, and provides a larger landscaped setting for the ground-oriented suites on the east side.

The north-south orientation gives each unit direct sunlight and optimizes outdoor space. Each façade responds to its specific solar orientation, while maintaining a cohesive visual character. The main exterior cladding is a cementitious rain-screen system, with deep recessed triple-glazed fiberglass windows and metal flashing surrounds. To achieve the required 200 mm insulation thickness, enable strapping to respond to the joint patterns and colour changes in the cladding system, the thickness of the exterior plywood sheathing was increased, eliminating the need to blindly fasten the exterior strapping thru to structural studs. This approach improved the construction schedule and made it easier to maintain the air barrier, resulting in an air tightness of 0.2 air changes per hour.

The vertical sunshades and recessed triple-glazed high-performance fiberglass windows with krypton gas fill by Duxton Windows and Doors.

The building is heated and cooled by a heat recovery variable refrigerant volume air source heat pump system by Daikin Applied, which also supplied chillers, fancoils and AC units.

Project Performance

  • Energy intensity (building and process energy) = 119.96KWhr/m²/year
  • Energy intensity reduction relative to reference building under = 65%
  • Water consumption from municipal sources = 219,000 litres/occupant/year
  • Recycled material content by value = 12%
  • Regional materials (800km radius) by value = 33 %
  • Construction waste diverted from landfill = 81%

Project Credits

  • Owner/Developer  BC Housing Corporation
  • Architect Low Hammond Rowe Architects
  • Design/Build Constructor  WCPG Construction Ltd.
  • Landscape Architect  Murdoch deGreeff
  • Civil Engineer  WSP CANADA
  • Electrical Engineer  Beairsto & Associates Engineering Ltd
  • Mechanical Engineer (HVAC)  RENÜ Engineering Inc.
  • Mechanical Engineer (Plumbing)  Beairsto & Associates Engineering Ltd
  • Structural Engineer  Beairsto & Associates Engineering Ltd
  • Commissioning Agent  E3 ECO Group Inc, West Rockies Services
  • Energy Modelling  Marken Design +Consult
  • Energy Consultant  RENÜ Engineering Inc
  • Passive House Consultant  Marken Design +Consult
  • Passive House Certifier  Stich Consulting & Design Inc.
  • Building Envelope Consultant  Aqua-coast Engineering Ltd
  • Geotechnical Consultant  Northern Geo Testing & Engineering
  • Photos  SILENTSAMA Architectural Photography

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DOIG RIVER Cultural Centre

Doig River First Nation, BC

Institutional (Small) Award

Jury Comment: A striking, high-performance centrepiece for a remote First Nations community. The flexible spaces, beautiful detailing and high-quality prefabricated construction will ensure a diversity of community uses and a long, cost-effective service life. This approach could be easily transferred to other remote locations. 

This is the first Passive House-certified community building to be completed on First Nations land. The main level comprises 250m² of community-oriented space with a mezzanine for additional seating. The lower level includes a daycare and an Elders lounge. This combination of uses promotes inter-generational interaction and provides a safe and healthy space for the entire community.

The structure is located close to the existing community administration building, so creating a civic centre. In such a small and remote community, a central gathering place helps establish a critical mass for community functions and also minimizes the need for major infrastructure expansion.

Nestled into the slope in a grove of birch and aspen trees, the building offers a gesture of welcome at the entrance to the community. The slope also facilitates grade access to both levels, eliminating the need for an elevator or wheelchair lift.

The choice of building form and orientation was critical, with a large south-facing roof and extensive glazing required to maximize winter solar heat gain and optimize PV panel exposure. The compact multi-level organization minimizes the building footprint, reduces the surface-to-volume ratio, and lessens the environmental impact of the building on the site.

The structure combines site-built and prefabricated components, thus increasing quality and precision. The primary structural system comprises glulam arches with prefabricated panels spanning between them. The 2×8 panels arrived on site with insulation already installed, then an additional 300mm of insulation was added around the entire perimeter of the building.

The primary structural system comprises glulam arches by Western Archrib with prefabricated insulated panels spanning between them.

Project Credits

  • Architect  Iredale Architecture
  • Owner / Developer  Doig River First Nation
  • General Contractor  Erik Olofsson Construction Inc.
  • Landscape Architect  Urban Systems
  • Civil Engineer  Urban Systems
  • Electrical Engineer  EDG Corporation
  • Mechanical Engineer  Rocky Point Engineering Ltd.
  • Structural engineer  Equilibrium Consulting Inc.
  • Passive House Consultant  RDH Building Science
  • Passive House Certifier  Edsco
  • Geotechnical Engineer  Golder Associates
  • Photos  Ema Peter
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Third & Hawkins Condo

Local residents band together to offer comfort and high efficiency to downsizers

By Mary Ellen Read

Located in downtown Whitehorse, this six-storey, predominantly wood-frame structure is the brainchild of three couples, none with previous construction or development experience. They joined forces with a common purpose: to develop a sustainable, community-oriented residential building that would also meet market expectations of comfort and luxury.

Enthusiastically supported by the local council, the development objective was to encourage downsizing owners to return to the city’s downtown core. Located in the well-established south-end of town, the building is only a few blocks from the dynamic urban amenities of Main Street, three parks with playgrounds are within 0.5 km, and both the Waterfront Trail and Millennium Trail (popular among urban hikers, dog-walkers, and joggers) are just steps away.

The majority of the units are 1,200 square feet with two bedrooms. The developers occupy three of the four penthouses, while the remaining units were sold at market value to finance construction. This innovative approach to development helped expand the inventory and diversify the options for those wanting to live downtown.

The building is a pinwheel shape in plan; rotated 15-degrees from the property lines to allow each unit to have multiple exposures for daylight and views to the mountains. 

With the primary target market being active seniors, the building is designed to facilitate aging in place. However, the generous hallways and wide wheelchair-friendly doorways create a sense of spaciousness that appeals to everyone.  Other accessibility features include zero-threshold showers; grab-bars strategically placed throughout; lever handles on doors and faucets; under counter and task lighting in kitchens; and high-contrast edges between walls and floors for residents with low vision.

The 15-degree rotation in plan creates inviting outdoor parkettes on two corners, planted with low-maintenance native shrubs. Large sections of permeable surfaces allow water to percolate into the ground, minimizing the impact of the spring freeze/thaw cycle and reducing stress on the local sewer system. 

Parking is at ground level since the down-ramp would require more space than the building’s compact footprint would allow. Concrete is also an expensive commodity to source in the North, and the additional cost of an underground parkade could not be justified.

Mary Ellen Read is a principal at Northern Front Studio.

The building is equipped with a high-efficiency central ERV system, specifically a RG 2000, by Winnipeg-based Tempeff. Acting as the building’s lungs, the ERV not only recovers heat, but also factors in humidity making it the best choice for occupant comfort in a cold, humid climate. The ERV makes use of Dual-Core technology allowing for continuous fresh air supply and frost-free operation in this climate.

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The ReCover Initiative

By Emma Norton, Nick Rudnicki and Lorrie Rand

Nova Scotia has committed to aggressive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, targeting a 53% reduction below 1990 levels by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050. A recent report by Brendan Haley and Ralph Torrie states that existing buildings are responsible for 47% of Nova Scotia’s GHG emissions. Read more …

In 2030, more than 75% of the building stock in Nova Scotia will be composed of buildings in use today, and an estimated 60% of those buildings will still be in use in 2050. This means that existing buildings will have a large impact on meeting Nova Scotia’s emissions targets.

In light of these facts, the ReCover Initiative was established to develop a Deep Retrofit methodology for Nova Scotia that can be implemented at a large scale.

Our goal was to achieve enough energy savings to ensure that the building could be net-zero with the addition of renewables. As such our approach involved energy savings through superinsulation AND an airtightness target of 1 ACH (passive house retrofit target), fuel switching of the building mechanicals (from fuel oil to electric), and addition of high-efficiency new equipment, including dedicated ERVs in each unit and then solar PV.. Essentially the pathway is to conserve as much energy as possible, to electrify everything, and then to offset the small amount of energy needed with renewables.

Our team performed a pilot design, with the support of Quest Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and Mines, to demonstrate the potential reductions in energy consumption and GHG emissions that could be achieved by applying this methodology to the retrofit of a low-rise MURB (multi-unit residential building) pilot building in Halifax.

Conventional methods of performing deep energy retrofits are slow and expensive, because every project is custom, as every building is unique. The ReCover Initiative is based on a systematic, turnkey approach to affordable deep energy retrofits, developed in the Netherlands, called Energiesprong (“energy leap”).

The ReCover process involves wrapping the building in a new prefabricated skin and replacing the mechanical systems with smaller, more efficient components. This work is faster and less disruptive than a typical renovation, and it allows for occupants to remain in their homes throughout the work. Additionally, following a proven, systematic process reduces risk to the contractor and reduces costs to the owner.

Emma Norton is with QUEST Canada; Nick Rudnicki is CEO RSI Projects and a Passive House-trained builder; and Lorrie Rand is president of Habit Studio and a Certified Passive House Designer.

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Clayton Community Centre

Open design process meets high performance and needs of users

By Melissa Higgs

Located about 10km east of the Surrey City Centre, Clayton Heights is transitioning rapidly from a predominantly agricultural community to an increasingly urban one. Designed to feel like it is part of the surrounding forest, the Clayton Community Centre focuses on meeting the current and evolving needs of residents, with social gathering spaces that help foster wellness, connection and resilience.

The 7,000 m² (76,000sf) Centre combines four aspects of the City of Surrey’s community services – recreation, library, arts and parks — in a seamlessly integrated facility. Previously accustomed to operating out of their own separate buildings, the four programs pooled space and resources during the design process, maximizing the potential for positive impact on both the community and their own operations.

The social fabric of the surrounding context has informed a design that addresses the needs of young people, while providing key gathering spaces to support the development of overall community connections. The unique mix of spaces combines arts and culture programming including music studios, recording studios and a community rehearsal hall, with recreational activities including a gymnasium, fitness centre, and a branch library.

These services are supported by a range of shared social areas and a unique mix of supplementary spaces, imagined and developed in close collaboration with the community, and designed to allow for community-led programming. Clayton Community Centre initially opened its doors in February, 2021 with reduced programming due to COVID-19 restrictions, before opening fully in the summer of that year.

Community engagement played a crucial role in the design development. Rather than simply informing neighbouring residents of the building’s progress, the architectural team invited people into the process to shape its development. In the absence of a recognized independent standard, hcma created its own social impact framework based on principles of equity, social inclusion, sustainability and adaptability. Clayton Community Centre is the first building to have been completed using hcma’s framework from start to finish.

From the start, the project was aiming for ultra-low energy performance and ultimately Passive House certification. As most of the Passive House projects completed in North America have been in the residential sector, there are few completed non-residential projects from which to learn. By designing complex non-residential buildings, design professionals are charting new territory.

Melissa Higgs, Architect AIBC, FRAIC is a principal at hcma. 

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