Dedicated to sustainable,
high performance building

Category: Canadian Green Building Awards winning project

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LAKERIDGE LOGISTICS CENTRE – Ajax ON

Existing Building Upgrade Award

Jury Comment

Although it is a significant percentage of our built infrastructure, the industrial sector is not often considered in discussions about sustainable design. Having achieved Net Zero Building certification and pursuing LEED Gold, this project provides a much needed, transferable example of what can be achieved.

Completed in December 2024, this is a 112,850 m2 industrial building, located adjacent to highway 401. The facility features a 12.2m clear height logistics area; over 200 truck level doors and more than 250 trailer parking spaces.

Setting a new precedent for industrial buildings in Canada, the project has achieved  ZCB (Zero Carbon Building) certification and is targeting LEED Gold.

Using a holistic sustainable design strategy rarely seen in this building type, the project includes an electrified mechanical system, renewable energy solutions, advanced energy efficiency features and a thoughtful selection of materials to reduce operational and embodied carbon and support a healthy work environment. 

The site is located close to transit; bike routes and a conservation area; promoting active transportation and offering opportunities for employees to engage with nature.

To minimize operating energy and enhance building performance, the design team opted for a highly insulated building envelope and paid particular attention to the design of the large dock doors. The envelope includes R-35 precast concrete lower walls, above which are  R-40 insulated metal panels and an R-40 roof.

The curtain wall system is made up of  double pane, low-e coated glazing  units, complemented by R-20 insulated spandrel panels. Specialized dock door seals and vertical levellers minimize infiltration loss.

The ultra efficient, electrified mechanical system incorporates ERVs and heat pumps to provide optimal ventilation and air conditioning for the warehouse. Stratification fans are strategically placed throughout the warehouse, redirecting heat from the ceiling to the occupied zone.

TriAxis Construction Limited was the construction manager for the building which sets a welcomed precedent for industrial buildings in Canada.

PROJECT CREDITS

  • OWNER/DEVELOPER  Pure Industrial
  • GENERAL CONTRACTOR  TriAxis Construction Limited
  • ARCHITECT  Glenn Piotrowski Architect Ltd.
  • DEVELOPMENT MANAGER  Turner & Townsend Canada Inc.
  • CIVIL ENGINEER  R.J. Burnside & Associate Limited
  • ELECTRICAL/ MECHANICAL  ENGINEER Inviro Engineered Systems Ltd.
  • SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT  Inviro Engineered Systems Ltd.
  • COMMISSIONING AGENT  Inviro Engineered Systems Ltd.
  • STRUCTURAL ENGINEER  Dorlan Engineering Consultants Inc.
  • TRAFFIC CONSULTANT  TMIG /TYLin
  • EARLY WORKS (EARTHWORKS) CONTRACTOR  Urgiles Brothers Excavating Inc.
  • LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT  MHBC Planning, Urban Design & Landscape Architecture
  • GEOTECHNICAL + TESTING AND INSPECTION  WSP Canada Inc.
  • ECOLOGY CONSULTANT  SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd.
  • PLANNING CONSULTANT  The Biglieri Group Ltd.

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HÔTEL DE VILLE DE MONTRÉAL – Montreal QC

Existing Building Upgrade Award

Jury Comment

Given the heritage status and historic character of this building, the performance metrics were highly commendable, proof  that we don’t have to choose between preservation and sustainability. The process was comprehensively documented and the results are beautiful, simple, warm and modern.

The Hotel de Ville was built from 1872 to 1878 and rebuilt in 1925 after a fire. This project is one of the largest heritage restorations undertaken in Quebec.

The ambitious approach was aimed at preserving the exceptional features of the building, while introducing contemporary, open, and accessible spaces for citizens.

The strategic approach included: retention of architectural and structural components, preserving existing resources and avoiding the extraction of new ones;  restoration of windows and upgrading of the building envelope to enhance energy efficiency; decarbonization of energy sources to achieve 99% carbon free operation; energy optimization through the recovery of heat from exhaust air and air-source heat pumps;  and modernization of lighting, heating, and plumbing fixtures. These measures reduce energy consumption by 78% compared to its previous state. A LEED v4.1 O+M certification for existing buildings is underway, reflecting the emphasis on occupant quality of life.

Analysis of the 1925 plans revealed a design dedicated to civic activities. This principle has been updated, with public access points redefined, and the feeling of ownership reinforced by more inclusive spaces that meet the highest universal accessibility standards.

The redesign enhances the readability of interior spaces, allowing them to evolve over decades. Large axes serve as spatial landmarks and offer visual connections to the urban environment, letting light reach the centre of the building. The use of wood and biophilic elements strengthens the connection with the outdoors.

Alongside the restoration of the City Hall, the Champ-de-Mars to the north of the building has been redesigned to green the area and highlight the remnants of Montreal’s old fortifications. The site includes a 242 m³ retention basin for optimal rainwater management and a drip irrigation system that optimizes water use. These interventions help increase the site's resilience to heavy rainfall.

Built in the 1870s and rebuilt in 1925 after a fire, the Hotel de Ville is one of the largest heritage restorations undertaken in Quebec. Detailing incorporates Muntz Bronze from CBC Specialty Metals & Processing . Heat pumps by Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada contribute to improved energy performance.

PROJECT CREDITS

  • Owner/Developer  Ville de Montréal
  • Architect  Beaupré Michaud et Associés, Architectes
  • Joint Architect  MU Architecture
  • General Contractor  Pomerleau
  • Civil/Structural Engineer  NCK
  • Electrical/ Mechanical Engineer  Martin Roy & Associés
  • Commissioning Agent  CIMA+
  • Other Contributors  David Gour;
  • Plomberie Jubinville; HVAC; ACCS
  • Photos  Raphaël Thibodeau

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253 KING WILLIAM STREET – Hamilton ON

Residential Large

Jury Comment

This project addresses issues of social, economic and environmental sustainability. A high-performance building, it reduces construction time and cost through systematized modular construction. The simple form, modest scale, material choices and elegant details fit seamlessly into its urban context. Careful placement and sizing of windows give the interiors a feeling of spaciousness and connection to the outdoors.

Located in downtown Hamilton, this project provides much needed housing for those who are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing homelessness. By transforming a former surface parking lot into a welcoming and dignified place to call home, the project demonstrates that equitable access to housing is indeed possible.The three-storey building accommodates 24 studio dwelling units along with shared amenities on the ground floor. These include a community room, meeting room, lounge, and laundry facility.

The enclosed backyard is animated with barbecues, seating, and a community garden surrounded by lush, low-maintenance landscaping. Creating a building that was socially and economically sustainable for the client was a key driver for this project, as social housing operators require high-quality buildings that are durable, low maintenance and have low operational costs. By extension, this leads to environmentally sustainable design solutions.

Given the desperate need for housing, modular construction was used to accelerate the project timeline. This method also provided the benefit of reduced time and resources on site. Manufacturing and testing the modules within a controlled, indoor environment also supported greater quality control and high building performance.

To minimize operating energy, the building includes:

  • simplicity in massing and design, maximizing the interior volume to exterior surface ratio
  • a highly insulated envelope, with R52 walls
  • detailing that achieves superior airtightness of 0.3ACH at 50Pa, and minimizes the risks of thermal bridging and condensation
  • an optimal window-to-wall ratio of 15.2%

The project uses the ThermalWall PH Panel by Legalett Canada which come in R-24, R-28 and R-32 configurations. Sun Glow roller shades in the building feature eco-sustainable technical textiles to filter natural light and moderate indoor temperatures, and equipped with a Fascia Valance for a contemporary aesthetic. Ceramic floor tile used in many areas of the interior is by Olympia Tile.

The enclosed backyard has barbecues, seating, and a community garden surrounded by low-maintenance landscaping designed by OMC Landscape Architecture. Ground level cladding between the large windows is board and batten pattern from Marwood Cape Cod Siding.

PROJECT CREDITS

  • Owner/Developer  CityHousing Hamilton
  • Architect  Montgomery Sisam Architects
  • General Contractor  NRB Limited – ATCO Structures
  • Landscape Architect  OMC Landscape
  • Civil Engineer  Ainley
  • Electrical Engineering and Energy Modelling  Design Works Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineer  Peel Passive House and Design Works Engineering
  • Structural Engineer  Solera and Design Works Engineering
  • Photos  Doublespace / Younes Bounhar

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NOVA SCOTIA NATIVE WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION (NSNWA) ADMINISTRATION OFFICE AND RESILIENCY CENTRE – Millbrook NS

Institutional (Small) Award

Jury Comment   

This project embodies a progressive vision of sustainability, cultural significance, and inclusivity. It achieves Net-Zero Operational Energy through  passive solar strategies, a high-performance envelope, and rooftop  PV. The focus on resilience, critical for all community buildings, is commendable; as is the seamless interweaving of Mi’kmaq cultural strategies into the architecture.

Designed using the “Two-Eyed Seeing” approach, this project uses the strengths of Mi’kmaq knowledge together with the strengths of western knowledge to create a facility that serves as a model for the design of sustainable Indigenous architecture.

From its inception, the project prioritized sustainability through its design and material selection. The facility achieves Net-Zero Operational Energy by employing passive solar strategies, a high-performance building envelope, and a rooftop solar photo-voltaic system. The NSNWA building is certified under the CAGBC Zero Carbon Building Design V3 standard.

Creating a platform for meaningful engagement, and ensuring that the resulting design reflects the collective input and values of the Mi’kmaq women was fundamental to the design approach.  Accordingly, the design team engaged elders, community members, and cultural experts to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and traditions into the  architecture. Artists Jennifer Denny and Jordan Bennett were pivotal members of the design team, who inspired the references to the Mi’kmaq ribbon skirt and the traditional eight-pointed star pattern used on the exterior of the building. The collaborative approach has given the project cultural meaning and a sense of ownership within the community.

Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada supplied fancoils and roof-mounted units. The civil engineering design by DesignPoint Engineering & Surveying Ltd. for site services, grading, and drainage supported the project’s net-zero goals by preserving the natural landscape, enhancing stormwater management and natural stormwater flows, and creating a sustainable foundation for a space connected to community and culture.

PROJECT CREDITS

  • Architect  Solterre Design
  • Owner/Developer  Nova Scotia Native Women's Association
  • General Contractor  Lindsay Construction Limited
  • Landscape Architect  Outside Landscape Architects Inc
  • Civil Engineer  Design Point Engineering and Surveying
  • Electrical/mechanical Engineer  Equilibrium Engineering Inc.
  • Structural Engineer  Andrea Doncaster Engineering Ltda.
  • Commissioning Agent  Equilibrium Engineering Inc.
  • Artist Collaborators  Jennifer Denny, Jordan Bennett
  • Photos  Dean Casavechia

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PERKINS + WILL STUDIO –  Vancouver BC 

Interior Design Award

 

Jury Comment

This systematic  approach to the reuse, reassembly and reimagining of existing furniture from a previous office is highly commendable; the more so because this facilitated the creation of a flexible and collaborative workspace to  support  employee wellness. The educational materials this process has generated are exemplary, as is the reduction in embodied carbon compared to new furniture. This project sets an example future clients will be encouraged to emulate.

After more than 20 years at its previous location, the Vancouver studio of Perkins+Will sought a new space that would allow it to embrace evolving workplace trends, and create an environment that would foster collaboration, flexibility, and employee wellness. To meet its goal of minimizing the embodied and operational carbon of the project, the team chose to rehabilitate space within and existing building.

An ideal solution was found in the iconic 26-storey Arthur Erickson Place tower, whose owners had recently retrofitted the building to CAGBC Zero Carbon Building Performance Standard™ and LEED Platinum certifications, consistent with P+W’s own green operations plan.

The challenge was to reorganize the program in a space that was 40% smaller than the previous studio; and only a single floor rather than multiple levels. Within these constraints, the aim was to maximize functionality, promote social interaction, collaboration and creativity. 

The interior layout reinforces Erickson’s concept of ’two towers joined by a core,’ with the studio divided into two zones. The floor plan respects the 10-foot structural rhythm, giving the space an organizational rigour while allowing for areas of expression.

The social heart of the studio is the “living room”, a large open space that serves as café and kitchen, as well as a venue for casual meetings, lunch and learn sessions or weekly all staff seminars.  The space also functions as a dynamic venue for events, gatherings, and meetings with community groups, industry organizations, and others.

The social heart of the studio is the “living room” which serves as café, kitchen and meeting venue. Wrapped acoustic wall panels by Decoustics reduce sound transmission.

PROJECT CREDITS

  • Architect  Perkins+Will
  • General Contractor Turner Construction
  • Mechanical/Electrical Engineer  Smith + Andersen
  • Structural engineer  RJC Ltd
  • Fire Protection  MFPE
  • Photos (Interiors)  Ema Peter Photography
  • Photos (Exterior View)  Michael Elkan

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TORONTO AND REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS – Toronto ON

Commercial Industrial (Large) Award

Jury Comment

With its solar chimneys and water walls, this four-storey office building was notable for its innovative and highly visible environmental strategies. Its use of mass timber reduces embodied carbon, while creating an attractive work environment. The careful siting adjacent to the Black Creek ravine gives occupants easy access to the natural environment.

The TRCA Headquarters is a four-storey, 85,000-square-foot mass timber office building. Serving as both an administrative centre and a learning hub, the facility offers a highly flexible and collaborative work environment, featuring open workspaces, private offices, meeting rooms, and adaptable areas with movable partition walls.

The design of the headquarters prioritizes passive systems by utilizing Passive House principles, which include a high-performance building envelope and solar optimization for natural daylighting and ventilation. The mechanical systems feature an open loop geo-exchange system connected to a modular heat recovery chiller that supports radiant heating and cooling panels located at the ceilings for efficient temperature regulation.

The facility incorporates energy recovery ventilation (ERV), highlighted by four “water walls” in the main atrium. These water walls are glass enclosures where ventilation air is pulled down from the roof intake and distributed to ERVs.

nside each glass duct, a chain-link mesh is suspended the full height, with cascading water providing both a visual display and a role in pre-heating and humidification of the dedicated outdoor air HVAC system.

Together, these systems contribute to energy conservation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved building performance, and comfort. The annual energy intensity for heating and cooling the building is estimated to be 61 kWh/m²/yr. Approximately 35% of the energy consumed comes from renewable sources, including on-site photovoltaics and a geothermal system. This all-electric building, designed in 2018, uses no on-site combustion for the operation of its systems.

Additionally, to reduce water consumption, the building includes rainwater harvesting for irrigation greywater reuse, and ultra low-flow fixtures. The projected potable water consumption for the building is 40% less than that of the reference building.

Inline Fiberglass supplied the windows which are manually operated but monitored by BAS. The Tremco ExoAir impermeable air barrier mitigates air infiltration/exfiltration, vapour transmission and water penetration. The building uses the AquaTech Lochinvar Lectrus Boiler, an electric boiler available in a kW range from 15-150 for applications requiring sustainable alternatives to carbon producing fuels. 

PROJECT CREDITS

  • Client  The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
  • Architect  ZAS Architects + Interiors and Bucholz McEvoy Architects (Dublin)
  • Structural Engineer  RJC Engineers
  • Civil Engineer  TYLin (previously TMIG)
  • Mechanical Engineer Introba (previously Integral)
  • Electrical Engineer  MBII
  • Energy Efficiency Consultant  Transsolar
  • Landscape Architect  Schollen & Company
  • Construction Manager  Eastern Construction  
  • Photos  ZAS Architects

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UBC SMART HYDROGEN ENERGY DISTRICT (SHED) – Vancouver BC

Commercial/Industrial (Small) Award

Jury Comment

The jury appreciated the thoughtful integration of this facility into the public realm of the campus, a beautiful example of an emerging typology, and a welcome departure from the traditional gas station. As a highly visible urban amenity, it is a great catalyst for energy innovation and education.

The hydrogen production and fueling station at UBC Vancouver campus is part of a ground-breaking, multi-phase clean energy initiative that serves as a model for what can be achieved on a standard city block.

Phase 0 includes an eHouse, providing critical energy management infrastructure. Phase 1 introduces the hydrogen station (this project), combining on-site hydrogen production, advanced storage, and fueling for passenger vehicles, transit buses, and fleet operations. Phase 2 adds a photovoltaic array atop an adjacent parking garage, integrating renewable energy into the project. The station’s design reflects a thoughtful, forward-looking aesthetic that seamlessly integrates with UBC’s urban and natural surroundings.

The architecture prioritizes user experience, with clear circulation pathways, intuitive functionality, and a welcoming appearance that invites community engagement with sustainable technology. Materials and finishes emphasize durability, safety, and sustainability, while incorporating natural elements to soften the facility’s presence within the campus.

Strategic design decisions for the hydrogen station were largely shaped by proximities to other campus energy infrastructure, as well as a parking garage that could accommodate a large photovoltaic array as part of the larger project considerations.

The site, previously an outdoor basketball court, was repurposed to capture a pedestrian desire line through the space, enhancing connectivity while integrating vehicle access and maintaining necessary safety clearances between equipment containers.

Placement of equipment containers aligns with existing campus pathways to support accessibility and efficient movement. Program organization prioritizes safety, functionality, and public engagement, ensuring user-friendly operations and educational opportunities.

The design delivers a recreational space into a functional, sustainable hub, advancing UBC’s climate goals and fostering innovation, collaboration, and community interaction. Landscaped areas, weather-protected zones, and interpretive displays educate visitors on hydrogen and renewable energy, transforming the station into a community asset.

PROJECT CREDITS

  • Architect  dialog
  • Owner/Developer  UBC Applied Science
  • General Contractor  Turner Construction
  • Landscape Architect  dialog
  • Civil engineer  Associated Engineering
  • Electrical engineer  dialog
  • Mechanical engineer  dialog
  • Structural engineer  dialog
  • Commissioning agent  HTEC
  • Clean energy Testing  Powertech Labs
  • PhotoS  UBC Applied Science

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ROSS CREEK ANNEX – Canning NS

Existing Building Upgrade Award

Jury Comment

A very valuable and beautifully executed example of the preservation, upgrading and repurposing of a building typology familiar in many small communities across Canada. Also notable were the diversity of activities the building now supports and the decision to make accessibility central tothe design, by relocating the entrance ramp to the front of the building.

The Ross Creek Annex is a music and food-focused community venue in the village of Canning, Nova Scotia, designed for Ross Creek Centre for the Arts as well as the larger surrounding community.

The project is a deep-energy retrofit of the previously decommissioned St. Lawrence Church. The main church hall is transformed into a flexible music performance space that can also be used for a variety of events and gatherings. The building also houses a new recording studio, multi-purpose room and community kitchen on the newly accessible lower level.

The Ross Creek Annex is a music and food-focused community venue in the village of Canning, Nova Scotia, designed for Ross Creek Centre for the Arts as well as the larger surrounding community.

The project is a deep-energy retrofit of the previously decommissioned St. Lawrence Church. The main church hall is transformed into a flexible music performance space that can also be used for a variety of events and gatherings. The building also houses a new recording studio, multi-purpose room and community kitchen on the newly accessible lower level.

The most significant sustai ng new, saving 26.9 tonnes of carbon emissions by extending the life of the existing structure. The upgrades to the exterior envelope, which include additional insulation, a new airtight weather barrier and new triple pane windows, lower energy consumption and increase occupant comfort.

Converting the HVAC system from oil to electric with new heat pumps and high efficiency ventilation system was a future-proofing, carbon reduction strategy, while installing solar PV panels on the roof offsets overall building energy use by 50%.

This church was ideal, accommodating the program without an addition, so the surrounding forest could be maintained. The layout of the existing church with its large, open nave space and additional space in the basement was well  set up to be converted into community gathering spaces with minimal changes.

Extending the life of the existing structure also reduced construction costs while saving a beautiful historic building, much loved  in the community. The design works within the constraints of the existing building to maximize passive design strategies. The south-facing orientation optimizes solar heat gain and the efficiency of a solar PV array.

On the main floor, the community hall is a large open, brightly lit space with a stage at one end. Lighting and sound equipment are effectively placed for an ideal performance setting. It encourages community interaction as the perfect space for all types of gatherings and events hosted by Ross Creek or other groups who wish to rent the space.

Concerts, music workshops, kids programming and community suppers encourage movement, social interaction and healthy eating, supporting the physical and psychological wellbeing of participants.

This deep energy retrofit, with its heat pump heating and cooling system, have transformed a once seasonally uncomfortable building to one that is regularly used for yoga, martial arts and other fitness classes on both levels – a success story for the community.

Premier Metals supplied the durable standing-seam metal roofing and cladding.

PROJECT CREDITS

  • Owner/Developer  Christopher Peck and Joan Powell
  • for the Ross Creek Centre
  • Architect  Solterre Design
  • General Contractor  Cripple Creek Carpentry
  • Electrical Engineer  Emtech Consulting Engineers Ltd.
  • Mechanical engineer  M. Lawrence Engineering Ltd.
  • Structural Engineer  Andrea Doncaster Engineering
  • Photos Acorn Art & Photography, Memo Calderon

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CANADIAN CENTRE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPTATION – University of Prince Edward Island, St. Peters Bay PEI

Institutional (Large) Award

Jury Comment

In terms of performance, this project was exemplary for its use of local materials including PH certified windows, which resulted in very low levels of embodied carbon. The program Is very progressive, integrating local Indigenous, Western, and global research communities within a collaborative, immersive 24-hour living lab environment.

Located in the village of St. Peters Bay this project is a living laboratory and educational destination, enabling  world-class sustainability focused research and experiential learning for UPEI and its collaborating organizations.

The facility serves as a hub and activator for local community engagement. With its living-learning concept providing an immersive environment that includes active spaces for teaching, research, experimentation, socialization, and quiet spaces for personal contemplation and rest.  The Centre also incorporates a multi-purpose community room with commanding views of Saint Peters Bay and Village.

The building extends east-west along the ridge of the hillside, accommodating parking to the north, enabling the creation of a wind protected south-facing courtyard, solar harvesting opportunities, while minimizing site disturbance. Existing vegetated hedge rows flanking the site were retained and reinforced.

The Centre’s ‘think globally, act locally’ sustainability approach is rooted in local supplier and trade capabilities wherever feasible and available. Examples include the use of all-wood, carbon sequestering construction using locally sourced stick-frame construction, glue-laminated columns/beams in fire/exposed locations (and the selective use of steel where dictated by economy/maintenance and durability considerations), locally assembled/ prefabricated wood wall panels, regionally harvested wood cladding and locally manufactured Passive House Certified windows which are manufactured within the LEED V4.1 ‘local’ radius of 160km from the site. 

PROJECT CREDITS

  • Owner/Developer  University of PEI,
  • Province of PEI; Government of Canada
  • Architect  Baird Samson Neuert Architects
  • Associate Architect Sable ARC
  • General Contractor  Bird Construction
  • Landscape Architect  Vollick McKee Petersmann & Associates Ltd.
  • Civil Engineer  SCL Engineering
  • Electrical Engineer  Richardson Associates Ltd
  • Mechanical engineer  MCA Consultants
  • Structural Engineer  SCL Engineering
  • Photos Brady McCloskey Photography

Main cladding types consist of Trespa Meteon panels from Formica and wood siding by Marwood Cape Cod Siding . Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada supplied fan coils and many of the interior walls are finished with Olympia Tile .

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Residential (Large) Award – Foxglove Supportive Housing and Shelter, Surrey, BC

Jury Comment: “This complex program of shelter, supportive housing and health services, so important to social sustainability, is appropriately contained in a simple form with a calming character. Material choice and detailing are thoughtful, with horizontal and vertical solar shading balancing the overall expression.”

Since 1982, RainCity Housing and Support Society has addressed the needs of individuals living with homelessness, mental illness, and addiction. To address these needs in the City of Surrey, RainCity has developed this facility in Green Timbers Park, in partnership with BC Housing, the City of Surrey and Fraser Health.

The project encompasses three major components:

• The Shelter, which offers emergency housing and care to those navigating homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse.

• Supportive Housing, which provides a caring residential environment for those who have attained stability and are transitioning to permanent housing.

• Enhanced Health Supported Housing, in which Fraser Health and RainCity work together to address both homelessness and complex health needs.

All three programs provide 24-hour/7-day staff with access to medication, overdose prevention services, and indigenous cultural and peer support. The design response reflects RainCity’s and BC Housing’s commitment to environmental sustainability, and implements strategies established through integrated workshops, extensive energy modelling, and costing exercises.

By using simple forms and optimizing the exterior envelope, the building easily meets BC Building Code Step Code 3. The envelope is highly insulated, has a low window-to-wall ratio, energy-efficient windows, and vertical and horizontal solar-shading systems. Detailing concentrated on eliminating thermal bridges and maintaining continuous high insulation values. These passive design strategies work together to optimize energy performance.

These  passive design strategies work together to optimize energy performance. Various conditions informed the linear design concept of the building: the long, narrow site, Surrey’s requirement to provide building access off Foxglove Drive, and the complex program. The simplicity of the building’s massing and character is intended to create a calm atmosphere for both its residents and the surrounding community.

To get the most from the budget, and to reduce its carbon footprint, the building was designed as a six- storey structure with five levels of wood frame construction over a concrete ground floor and a single level of underground parking.

Project Performance

  • Energy Intensity (Process Energy) 17.2 KWh/m2/year
  • Energy Intensity Lighting  24.3kWhr/m2/year
  • Reduction in energy intensity relative to
  • reference building under ASHRAE 90.1-2010  7.5%
  • Potable water consumption from municipal sources  1214L/occupant/year
  • Reduction in water consumption relative to reference building 44%
  • Regional materials content 14%
  • Construction waste diverted from landfill  63.91%

Project Credits

  • Owner/Developer  RainCity Housing and Support Society
  • Architect  NSDA Architects
  • Development Consultant  Terra Housing Consultants
  • General contractor  Yellowridge Construction Ltd.
  • Landscape Architect Durante Kreuk
  • Civil engineer  RF Binnie and Associates Ltd.
  • Electrical Engineer  AES Engineering
  • Mechanical engineer  TD Systems
  • Structural Engineer  Entuitive Corporation
  • Commissioning Agent  CES Engineering Ltd
  • Building Code  LMDG Building Code Consulting Ltd.
  • Building Envelope  exp Services Inc.
  • Sustainability/Environmental  Pinchin West
  • Energy Modelling  Edge Consultants Ltd
  • Interior Design  Aliki Gladwin and Associates
  • Photos  Andrew Latreille Photography Ltd.

Detail of vertical and horizontal solar-shading which work together to optimize energy performance. EXP provided consulting services for the building envelope.

Aqua-Tech supplied the Lochinvar Indirect Domestic hot water heaters [model Squire]. 

The resilient flooring is Forbo Marmoleum and many of the plumbing fixtures are by Chicago Faucets.

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