SABMag 80 Fall 2023 by SAB Magazine

ISSUE NUMBER 80 | FALL 2023 | PM40024961 | $6

THE WELLINGTON Design strives to break sterotype of affordabe housing

BIRD’S WING DUPLEX

Creative spatial design makes for flexible living

REGENERATIVE DESIGN

Data driven method a net positive for ecology, health and society

MOSAÏQ INFILL

Big increase in urban density delivers comfort and large energy savings

The

PASSIVE

HOUSE

issue

SABMag - FALL 2023

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For more about the articles in this issue!

News & Products

10 Passive House Canada: A Catalyst for High-Performance Buildings and Industry Transformation

13 Bird’s Wing Duplex Creative spatial design makes for flexible living

18 Mosaïq Community Housing Big increase in urban density delivers comfort and large energy savings

25 Building NX Retrofit A first for Passive House certification

32 The Wellington Design and high performance break stereotype of affordable housing

38 Regenerative Design

Data driven method a net positive for ecology, health and society

42 Viewpoint Rights of nature: Pathways to legal personhood for the Fraser River Estuary

46 Interview with: Irene Rivera and Esther van Eeden Designing the Passive House Putman Family YWCA

ISSUE DON’T MISS NEXT WINTER 2024 Cite Angus Phase II The first LEED Platinum neighbourhood in Quebec Technical Integration of Green Roofs and Photo Voltaic Modules The 2024 Directory of Products and Services for Sustainable High-Performance Building Our annual Special Supplement … and more Cover: The Wellington, Acre Architects. Photo: Julien Parkinson

SABMag - FALL 2023

UBC EVOLVE IN VANCOUVER, BC Passive House Multi-Family Project by ZGF Architects and Peak Construction.

Windows + Doors for Passive House Projects Innotech Windows + Doors is a Canadian manufacturer of high-performance windows and doors. The Defender 88PH+ System combines decades of fenestration knowledge to deliver a robust window and door system that is not only Passive House Institute certified, but that also delivers the air, water and structural performance required for highly sustainable housing developments.

Ask us about the Defender 88PH+ XI: the first Passive House Institute (PHI) cold climate certified window system manufactured in North America!

SABMag - FALL 2023

innotech-windows.com

Dedicated to high-performance building

PASSIVE HOUSE AND BEYOND

Member Canada Green Building Council

SABMag is a proud member and official media partner of the Canada Green Building Council. VISIT www.sabmagazine.com Publisher Don Griffith 613-421-7588, dgriffith@sabmagazine.com Editor Jim Taggart, FRAIC 604-874-0195, architext@telus.net Senior Account Manager Patricia Abbas 416-438-7609, pabbas@sabmagazine.com Graphic Design Carine De Pauw cdepauw@sabmagazine.com Subscriptions/Change of Address Lyse Cadieux, lcadieux@sabmagazine.com Published by

www.janam.net 81 Leduc St.,Gatineau, Qc J8X 3A7

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photo: Roy Grogan

Our annual Passive House issue is an opportunity to showcase the progress we are making in reducing the consumption of operating energy and (in the case of renovations) conserving the embodied energy of existing buildings. As energy prices increase, Passive House performance is also seen as helping address affordability – but what more can we do?

One answer lies in the methodology of regenerative design, which goes beyond harm reduction to enhance the quality and resilience of the physical, environmental and social context of our buildings. Our practice article describing the data driven approach to design, recognizes the integrated and interdependent nature of the ecological and social systems that support all life – but, again, what more can we do? One answer lies in our Viewpoint article that investigates the granting of legal personhood to ecological systems much as we have done for corporations for decades. This ‘Rights for Nature’ movement now spans 40 countries, including Canada, where Quebec’s Ship River was granted personhood earlier this year. This move affirms that more jurisdictions are realizing the limitations of environmental laws in which ecological interests are simplistically subdivided and ultimately subordinated to economic ones. Consequently, the interpretation and application of these laws rarely extends beyond the most basic mitigation measures. The focus on the Fraser River Estuary is particularly poignant given the recent approval of a major expansion to the Roberts Bank container port, despite the acknowledgement by government that there remain 300 issues of significant environmental concern the development will not be obligated to address. Implementing Rights of Nature may help us better address the challenges we face, by leveraging the transformation of the resource and commodity based attitudes that dominate Western cultures, to a more reciprocal, respectful and Indigenous-inspired attitude toward the natural world – but what more can we do? Ultimately, the answer lies in our values. We must re-examine our techno-centric, material-focused definition of progress in which ecological systems and human capital are too often collateral damage in the quest for economy and efficiency. Rather, we should heed the advice of eco-theologian Thomas Berry and ensure that, “From here on, the primary judgment of all human institutions, professions, programs and activities will be determined by the extent to which they inhibit, ignore, or foster a mutually-enhancing human – Earth relationship. Jim Taggart, FRAIC Editor

SABMag - FALL 2023

NEWS RAIC REPORT: RELAUNCH OF POPULAR PROJECT MANAGEMENT COURSES Communication is also critical to the process and can be improved using userfriendly software tools to facilitate discussions with stakeholders, team members, and clients.

Let’s be honest - to handle large projects from start to finish, architects need excellent project management skills. Because encountering challenges during any architectural design project, regardless of size, is pretty much guaranteed. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is relaunching its highly popular Project Management Courses in response to demand. These in-person courses provide both project management knowledge in the context of architectural practice as well as prepare participants for the Project Management Institute’s PMP® certification exam. To manage design projects effectively, architects need expertise, experience, and the ability to proactively address potential issues to avoid expensive mistakes and prolonged timelines.

RAIC project management courses explore these innovative applications and demonstrate how they can help monitor a project's progress and success, among others. But don’t take our word for it – hear directly from past students: "The Project Management for Architects course was extremely helpful in improving project flow in my office, managing client expectations, coordinating with consultants, and understanding project finances and overall practice. The structure was comprehensive and powerful, and the instructor's real-world experience and project examples were invaluable." - Donald Peckover By considering enrollment in these courses, architects can expect to improve their organizational skills, enhance client satisfaction, and reduce stress levels. This step ensures that each architectural project is not only executed with precision but also achieves creative success. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your project management skills and further your architectural career. raic.org/pmcourse

IPEX EXPERTISE FOR DOUBLE CONTAINMENT The Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the National Fire Code of Canada require that underground piping transporting petroleum-based products be double contained.

SABMag - FALL 2023

IPEX designs Double Containment based on: Material Selection, Thermal Expansion & Contraction, and System Layout. Above ground and below ground monitoring includes best practices in Visual leak detection and Electronic leak detection – including monitoring of the interstitial space (i.e. the space between the inner and outer pipe). See the IPEX one-page case study atsabmagazine.com/case-studies/.

BUILD NOW: WATERLOO REGION AIMS TO BUILD 10,000 ATTAINABLE HOMES BY 2030 The recent launch of BUILD NOW: Waterloo Region project has the goal of creating 10,000 missing middle “half price” homes across Waterloo Region. The success of this project is dependent on three things: land (donated or sold at a nominal rate), no development charges and a cost structure that is engineered to remove traditional profit margins. In terms of housing typology, these homes would be 4-6 storey buildings, with one-to-three-bedroom units averaging 1,000 square ft. Ontario’s population is expected to grow by about 1.5 million over the next 10 years. The BUILD NOW: Waterloo Region project could be a model of innovative and practical housing solutions to ensure these people have places to live. https://buildnowwr.ca/

PASSIVE HOUSE INSTITUTE CERTIFIES LITEZONE® L0679 PH ARCTIC IGU AND FRAMELESS™ FIXED WINDOW The Passive House Institute (PHI) in Germany has certified the LiteZone® L0679 PH Arctic IGU (certified insulating glass) and L0679 PH FRAMELESS™ window (fixed window), the only PHI units manufactured in North America that achieves the requirements for the PHI arctic and cold climate zones. Using six layers of low-e glass, the LiteZone® L0679 PH Arctic IGU achieves Ug=0.40 W/m2K. It only uses air fill in a patented pressure equalized assembly and therefore has no concerns with declining insulating value or with becoming decompressed due to escaping argon or krypton over the IGU's life. With a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.42 and G/ Ug=1.05, it achieves a passive house efficiency class of phA. The L0679 PH FRAMELESS™ fixed window is accomplished by directly setting a LiteZone® L0679 PH Arctic IGU into a wall opening without a traditional frame following prescribed installation details. By eliminating the traditional window frame, material usage is reduced and thermal transmission through the window is reduced. glass@litezone.ca www.litezone.ca

kalwall.com

Daylighting productivity In order to be most productive, one needs to be comfortable first. Add superior light quality, views to the outdoors and natural ventilation to enhance indoor environmental quality, and people thrive. Daylighting done right has been proven to increase productivity, reduce absenteeism and improve mood. Kalwall works hard so employees can work smart.

ingenuity With 60+ years of daylighting expertise, we invest in materials science and incorporate the most recent gains in knowledge into our products. All of this contributes to the Kalwall difference, allowing us to provide the best facesheet technologies and composite products for sustainable, energy-efficient daylighting design.

excellence Kalwall products are utilized in over 1,000 LEED certified projects—and for good reason. Kalwall and our family of products are regularly recognized by the United States Green Building Council for unmatched performance and industry impact, and many projects that feature Kalwall boast similar records. The proof is in the performance.

Facades | Skyroofs | Skylights | Canopies SABMag - FALL 2023

NEWS VETTA WINDOWS INTRODUCES THE SUMMIT C108, A PHI COLD CLIMATE CERTIFIED OPERABLE ALU-CLAD WOOD WINDOW To r o n t o - b a s e d VETTA Windows has launched the Summit C108, its new flagship high performance aluclad wood window. The PHI cold climate certified tilt turn window delivers exceptionally uncommon results for thermally demanding Passive House and Net Zero projects. The frame achieves an impressive Uf of 0.69 w/m2.K. Overall Uw of 0.65 w/m2.K. • Hand-crafted European engineered window. • Hidden Hinge design available. • Triple glazed with low-E coatings and argon gas to manage solar heat gain. • Three compression seals help keep the noise and drafts out while keeping the comfort in. • Safe & Sound essentials – Interior handle activates a German steel multi point cam locking system. Sound insulation up to 44 dB (STC) or 37 (OITC). carolyn@vettawindows.com vettawindows.com

Mississauga for the distribution of Trespa® Meteon® panels across North America. Trespa® Meteon® exterior panels offer a large range of designs, patterns and longlasting colours for compelling aesthetics. EA also provides technical expertise in the rear ventilated rainscreen system (RVRS) industry. EA is a founding member of the Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA) with 16 years of experience in the design and installation of RVRS assemblies. Its S2 Design Guide is helping the industry contribute to a net-zero built environment. schan@engineeredassemblies.com, EngineeredAssemblies.com, Trespa.com ASSA ABLOY JOINS THE MINDFUL MATERIALS MANUFACTURERS FORUM AND LAUNCHES QMAX

ENGINEERED ASSEMBLIES INC. TO DISTRIBUTE TRESPA® METEON® ACROSS NORTH AMERICA

mindful MATERIALS (mM) recently announced the official launch of three building industry groups, known as The Forums, which includes ASSA ABLOY and other proven materials leaders. The Forums represent owners and over 80 individuals from more than 40 leading companies across the manufacturing, architecture, design, engineering, and construction industries to find common ground, identify alignment opportunities, build shared resources, and accelerate meaningful action. ASSA ABLOY has also launched the QMAX thermally-enhanced core for its 707 series doors for a significantly improved thermal rating (0.37 U value), and a 22% carbon footpring reduction. mindfulmaterials.com/the-forums.

Netherlands-based Trespa International b.v, a premier cladding and siding manufacturer, has announced a new partnership with Engineered Assemblies Inc. (EA) of

Making Tomorrow Better Than Today. As a ‘human’ centric studio, METAFOR believes in the power of community and doing what’s right. We believe that great design is only achieved through unique, bold, and inspired solutions that are centred on environmental and social wellness. People are at the heart of everything we do.

SABMag - FALL 2023

NOV 29 – DEC 1, METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE

The Buildings Show, produced by Informa Connect, is home to Construct Canada, PM Expo, HomeBuilder & Renovator Expo and World of Concrete Toronto Pavilion. It is North America’s largest exposition, networking & educational event for design, architecture, construction, renovation, and real estate industries. For more information and to register, visit www. thebuildingsshow.com. KALWALL® TRANSLUCENT WALL SYSTEMS HELP KEEP BIRDS SAFE

The KALWALL® Translucent Wall Systems (or facades) reduce the risk of deadly bird strikes. The prismatic fibers in Kalwall’s fiberglass-reinforced structural polymer sandwich panels refract and scatter visible light waves which renders them translucent. The panels admit light while appearing to birds as a solid wall, preventing fatal strikes. kalwall.com/products/facades/wallsystems

PRODUCTS

CANADIAN DIRECTORY OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR SUSTAINABLE, HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDING

sabmagazine.com/product-directory

Visit SABMag's Directory of Sustainable Products and Services for Sustainable, High-Performance Building [sabmagazine.com/product-directory/] where products are organized by Product Category and by LEED Category. Examples of featured listings include: Big Ass Fans The world’s preeminent manufacturer of airflow products. We engineer and purpose-build our products to provide significant energy savings and improve occupant comfort year-round. Send us your projects today for a free airflow and energy-saving analysis. bigassfans.com Inline Fiberglass Ltd. Our fiberglass windows and doors offer: Time-tested durability, Superior energy efficiency, Residential and commercial applications in LEED-certified Platinum, Gold, and Silver projects. Canada & USA INLINE Series 3000 windows are Passive House International certified. inlinefiberglass.com Thames Valley Brick & Tile A trusted source for Clay Face Brick, Thin Brick and Paving Brick, including LEED qualifying products, that meet the challenges of the Canadian architectural and designer marketplace. thamesvalleybrick.com

Valhalla Wood Preservatives Ltd. Non-toxic mineral wood stain for all of your untreated wood projects. One application only. Just add water, stir, and apply. Colour maturation varies between a brown to grey. valhalco.com Innotech Windows + Doors A BC-based manufacturer of Passive House Institute certified fenestration systems for deeply sustainable custom residences and multi-family developments. innotech-windows.com LiteZone® GLASS INC Insulating glass for the world’s most e n e rg y - e ff i c i e n t window. Ultimate Energy Efficiency – 2.5 times greater than triple-pane windows; Extreme Longevity; Lowest Life Cycle Costs; Superior Human Comfort – constant window inside surface temperatures; Excellent Sound Insulation. litezone.ca Century Wood Products Operating since 1997, Century Wood Products reclaims historic wood from vintage buildings for restoring or replicating that which is old, and to add character to new designs. We offer custom-milled antique solid wood flooring, reclaimed timber and mantels, and antique handhewn and re-sawn boards for cabinets or millwork. century-wood.com Dulux Paints

Kohltech Windows & Entrance Systems Kohltech combines beauty and craftsmanship with performance and energy efficiency. With an extensive array of glass and decorative options, as well as ENERGY STAR and Passive House certified products, Kohltech can meet your project needs. kohltech.com Aqua-Tech Sales and Marketing Inc. Aqua-Tech delivers the market with high efficiency products. LEED v4 category potential for new construction for energy performance. aquatech-canada.com Daikin Applied Daikin designs and manufactures technologically advanced commercial HVAC systems for customers around the world. Our goal is to deliver superior air quality and energy efficiency to every solution with innovation in advanced technology, IoT, and next generation compressors. daikinapplied.com Ecopilot® Ecopilot®’s realtime energy management system interfaces to any building automation system to optimize HVAC performance every two-minutes and reduce HVAC energy consumption by up to 40% annually. ecopilotAI.com

With the largest network of company-owned paint stores across Canada, our highly experienced team of account representatives provides specification and on-site support and we have the scale to deliver outstanding services to help you meet any of your design challenges. dulux.ca/pro

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THE CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION: A Catalyst for High-Performance Buildings and Industry Transformation By Passive House Canada CEO, Chris Ballard Passive House Canada is happy to introduce the annual Passive House issue of SABMag which profiles recently completed Passive House-certified projects from across the country. We are in overlapping climate, housing, and affordability crises and we must turn to the construction industry to help build and retrofit our way out. But would you turn to an industry that has been notoriously slow to digitize, lagging almost every other sector? Whose productivity underperformed the rest of the economy? What if I told you that the tides are turning, and the construction industry is on the brink of a technological revolution that could redefine our approach to sustainable, high-performance buildings? THE LONG OVERDUE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION In 2016, McKinsey ranked the construction industry as second last to digitize, only ahead of agriculture. For two decades, global labour-productivity growth in construction averaged a mere one percent a year, compared to 2.8 percent for the world economy and 3.6 percent in manufacturing. Canada's construction productivity also lagged significantly. Even more concerning, Canada's construction industry faces a severe labour shortage, with an 80,000-position vacancy rate in 2022 and an aging workforce that will require 245,100 new workers over the next decade. Without significant innovation, the sector has been stuck in the past, but perhaps we are witnessing that start of a seismic shift. In 2019, venture capital investment in Construction Technology (ConTech) outpaced non-construction funding by a factor of 15. Parts of the industry are finally embracing multi-service platforms, 3-D printing, modularization, robotics, digital-twin technology, artificial intelligence, and analytics. But is this enough to help solve our overlapping crises? CUTTING CARBON EMISSIONS WITH BETTER DATA Climate change is a pressing issue, and the construction industry is a significant contributor to carbon emissions. In 2019, the building sector accounted for 12.5 percent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels for heating (18 percent with electricity included). When the impact of construction, materials and waste is included, the number is much larger. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Lifecycle Assessments (LCAs) are both critical digital tools for an evolving construction industry to evaluate systematically the environmental impact of building materials and processes. An EPD is a standardized document that provides specific environmental data of a product based on predetermined parameters. EPDs are generally derived from LCAs. An LCA is a comprehensive analysis that evaluates the environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life—from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling. 10

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1 Chris Ballard

LCAs and EPDs work in tandem to provide comprehensive and standardized data on the environmental impact of materials and processes. This data enables architects, engineers, and builders to make informed decisions on material selection, design, and construction methods, thereby optimizing for both reduced carbon emissions and resource efficiency. The standardized nature of EPDs also facilitates the reuse and recycling of building components, contributing to a more circular economy in construction. Innovations like AI and machine learning could further amplify the effectiveness of EPDs and LCAs, enabling more dynamic, data-driven decision-making in construction. These technological advancements not only promise to make the industry more efficient but also pave the way for a more sustainable and circular economy in construction. ADVANCING HIGH-PERFORMANCE PREFABRICATION Prefabrication is not new, its adoption has been slow in North America, but signs point toward change. Total revenue in the North American market for prefabrication and modular-construction real estate projects grew by a factor of 2.4 from 2015-2018, rising from $2 to $4.9 billion. Prefabricated buildings encompass a range of construction methods, including modular, panelized, precut, structural insulated panels (SIPs), hybrid systems, and 3D printing. They offer a multi-faceted solution to some of the construction industry's most pressing challenges. Built off-site, they enable greater efficiency and reduced waste, contributing to significant reductions in both embodied and operational carbon emissions. Prefabrication also fosters a circular economy by enabling waste reduction, component reuse, and design adaptability. Additionally, the mass production approach of prefab buildings leads to cost efficiency, reduced labour costs, and faster build times, enhancing affordability and predictability.

2 1. Skeena Residence, University of British Columbia Okanagan. 2. 825 Pacific Street Artists Hub.

Innovations like CAD-CAM and robotization have made prefabrication more efficient and versatile. These technologies allow for greater customization while maintaining the benefits of mass production, thereby reducing costs and boosting material efficiency. VERIFYING HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDING METRICS Verifying the performance of high-performance buildings has always been a challenge. High-quality, efficient buildings are gaining a premium in resale value, as seen in Europe and the U.K., where existing net-zero buildings command a 5 to 12 percent premium while buildings not up to standard face a 30 percent value reduction for transition costs, reports Forbes. As climate risk reporting becomes mainstream, these financial differentials are expected to be increasingly priced into real estate deals, reflecting the market's growing need for verified results. Air-tightness testing and verification serve as empirical methods to ensure that buildings are actually achieving their performance claims, particularly in terms of energy efficiency and climate resilience. By rigorously measuring and confirming the airtightness of a building's envelope, these tests validate that the structure meets its designed specifications for preventing structural damage, enhancing comfort, and mitigating energy costs, thereby substantiating its sustainability and resilience credentials. Innovation like digital twin technology and advanced analytics can continuously monitor and verify building performance in real-time. This not only ensures that the buildings meet the intended performance metrics but also allows for ongoing optimization. To accelerate the focus on accuracy and verification in the construction sector, Passive House Canada and the Passive House Network launched the Building Performance Assurance Council (buildingperformanceassurance.org). The new initiative aims to help the construction industry meet verified performance targets, hastening the shift toward a more sustainable and net-zero built environment. INTEGRATED DESIGN FOR HOLISTIC BUILDING SOLUTIONS The traditional design process is often fragmented, leading to inefficiencies and suboptimal solutions, with architects, engineers, and other stakeholders working in isolation, leading to missed opportunities for optimization. In contrast, Integrated Design Process (IDP) encourages a holistic approach where all parties—ranging from architects and engineers to trades and end-users—are involved from the outset.

Leveraging digital tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) in conjunction with IDP allows for a unified, 3D model-based process that can be accessed by all stakeholders. This early and continuous real-time collaboration ensures that everyone is working from the same data set, reducing errors and streamlining decision-making. Innovation such as AI and machine learning can facilitate a more effective IDP process by analyzing multiple criteria in the early design stage. User-centred design methods can be further integrated to ensure that enduser needs are met, thereby improving overall building performance and customer satisfaction. POLICY AND REGULATION TRANSFORMATION Governments need to place a high emphasis on innovation in the construction of homes. Given the current limitations on resources and escalating costs, traditional methods will be inadequate for meeting the demand for housing in sufficient numbers. Policymakers need to adapt to the changing landscape by revising building codes and standards to accommodate new technologies. Additionally, they should leverage procurement strategies to incentivize innovation and provide support for advanced manufacturing in the construction sector. Training programs should be revamped to equip the workforce with the skills needed for a digitized, automated future. THE SHIFT IS UNDERWAY The ConTech revolution is not just a trend but a fundamental shift in how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated. ConTech is setting the stage for a more sustainable, efficient, and high-performing built environment but faces a potential backlash from industry and governments resistant to change. Nevertheless, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, promising a future where high-performance buildings are the norm, not the exception.

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DOUBLE CONTAINMENT

WHERE DO I START? It’s the law Leak Detection

Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA)

National Fire Code of Canada (NFC)

In 2008, under CEPA, regulations concerning storage tank systems for petroleum-based products were introduced, requiring any associated underground piping transporting these products to be double contained if the storage tank meets the criteria outlined in the regulations.

The NFC states that all underground piping systems used for the transportation of flammable and combustible liquids must be double contained for buildings and facilities that fall under the jurisdiction of the code.

• SOR/2008-197 — Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations

of Canada 2020, Section 4.5. Piping and Transfer Systems

How do we DESIGN Double Containment?

• SOR/National Fire Code

In addition to double contained underground piping, monitoring of the interstitial space (i.e. the space between the inner and outer pipe) is also required under these federal regulations/codes. • National Fire Code of Canada

2020, Table 4.4.1.2.-C —

Leak Detection Testing and Monitoring of Underground Piping Systems

How do we MONITOR Double Containment?

1. Material Selection L

L PS I

Chemical Compatibility

PS I

Pressure

2. Thermal Expansion & Contraction

3. System Layout Accommodate for size of components

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ABOVE GROUND APPLICATION: Best Practice • Visual leak detection • Electronic leak detection

Temperature

BELOW GROUND APPLICATION*: Federally Mandated • Visual leak detection • Electronic leak detection

ipexna.com

BIRD’S WING DUPLEX Creative spatial design makes for flexible living By Allison Holden Pope Located in an established single-family neighbourhood on the west side of Vancouver, this project takes advantage of recent zoning changes to create an energy efficient duplex, with lock-off suites, combining thermal efficiency and spatial flexibility, within an architectural expression that is both minimalist and contextual. The project goes beyond the basic concerns of Passive House certification for energy efficiency and indoor air quality to embrace broader community issues of affordability and aging in place. In Vancouver, where land comes at a premium, splitting the cost of land and construction between two families, while also creating income generating rental suites, made the dream of building a custom Passive House a reality for our clients. We capitalized on the City of Vancouver’s floor area incentives, which encourage Passive House construction by compensating owners for the additional space occupied by the thick envelope assemblies. These incentives increased the permissible FSR by 18%; translating into an additional 33.4m2 of useable interior floor area. This was a game changer for our clients, allowing each unit to have an additional bedroom and bathroom. The folding roof line, like the wing of a bird in flight, is a modern take on a traditional gabled profile. The footprint of the home is continuous from foundation to roof, and incorporates a single notch in plan to create architectural interest while keeping the thermal envelope simple.

1 1.The folding roof line, like the wing of a bird in flight, is a modern take on a traditional gabled profile.

Nestled into the space created by this step-in plan, the main floor unit has a large south-facing covered front porch, featuring a Tyndall stone clad landscape wall for privacy. Above, and wrapped in the protective wing-like roof, the upper unit has a south-facing balcony. These outdoor spaces create a flow from inside to out while having a level of privacy from the street. The planning of the duplex was an exercise in spatial optimization, as with a creative three-dimensional puzzle of interlocking pieces. The suites bend and fold around each other to maximize efficiency and create evocative volumes within the strict zoning regulations.

Site plan

3 4

4 2

1.Garage 2. Duplex residence 3. Gravel dining patio 4. Entry

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PROJECT CREDITS ARCHITECT ONE SEED Architecture + Interiors INTERIOR DESIGN ONE SEED Architecture + Interiors STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Timber Engineering BUILDER Naikoon Contracting CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGNER JRG Building Engineering CERTIFIER CertiPHIers Cooperative

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Acre Horticulture PHOTOS Janis Nicolay

Floor plans N 1. Entry 2. Lock off suite North 3. Shared laundry 4. Storage 5. Mechanical room 6. Flex bedroom 7. Lock off suite South 8. Terraced patio 9. Primary bedroom 10. Ensuite 11. Balcony 12. Dining

7 8

2. The new duplex in its context of an established single-family neighbourhood. 3. Splitting the cost of land and construction between two families, while also creating income generating rental suites, made the dream of building a custom Passive House a reality for the clients.

Basement plan

Main floor plan

12 10

Upper floor plan

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18.5"

GWB 5/8"

4 1/2" concrete slab Soil gas and Floor finish vapour barrier Rigid underlay insulation R44-84

8"concrete wall Drainage board Rigid insulation R46 Waterproof membrane

24"

Levelling slab

Section detail - typical foundation/footing connection

16"

4 The main floor unit has a large south-facing covered front porch featuring a Tyndall stone clad landscape wall for privacy.

Siding strapping (rainscreen), 3/4" Weather resistive barrier - Insulating sheathing, R1 - TJI joist 9-1/2", packed with cellulose insulation, R36

Insulation layer

Plywood sheathing taped at all joints - 2 x 4 wood stud wall - Batt insulation, R14 - GWB, 5/8"

The lock-off suites are within the Passive House thermal envelope, providing healthy and high-performance rental suites for the community, potential income for the owners, as well as flexibility to expand or contract their living space over time. These suites feature compact, well equipped kitchens, shared or in-suite laundry, large windows, full bathrooms, and their own “front” door with access to shared outdoor space - all within the scale of a single-family home.

Thermal bridge free at floors and structural elements

Exterior

Each unit has a full floor plate, open to the south at the front, and with access to ample daylight and crossventilation through strategically placed side windows and framed views to the north. We opted for a stacked arrangement with one unit on the main floor and one on the upper, with front- and back- facing entry doors, respectively.

Interior

Section detail - typical wall at floor connection

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5 5. The duplex interior connects to the exterior through strategically placed windows and doors for ample daylight and cross-ventilation. Proclima Solitex Mento Plus from 475 High Performance Building Supply performs the dual role of water-resistant barrier and air barrier.

Aging in place was an important consideration for this project. Achieving accessibility was challenging given a compact footprint over three storeys in a zone requiring raised front porches and sunken basements. The entry design for each unit incorporates a dedicated space and electrical rough-ins for a future outdoor lift to the entry porch. From here, there is easy access via a low-threshold front door to the interior, where everything, including living and dining areas, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen are on one level. The upper unit has a single straight run stair from the entry, designed to accommodate a future interior chair lift. Again, when exiting the lift on the upper storey, all living spaces are on one level. Also key to aging in place is spatial flexibility. The interconnected lock-off suites on the lower level can provide rental income in retirement, or can be offered as a live-in suite to a caretaker. As needed, the owners can expand their primary units to incorporate the lock-off suites for additional space if, for example, their kids move back home, to create a dedicated home office space, or to provide self-contained suites for visitors.

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Should they need less space, they can move into the lower level lock-off suites, increasing their income stream significantly by renting out the upper two-bedroom, two-bath units. We took a low-embodied carbon approach which limited fossil fuel-based insulation and other materials; all above-grade insulation is mineral wool or cellulose, both of which are nontoxic and have low embodied energy. The house is vinyl free, uses fibreglass or locally-sourced wood windows and doors, and is all electric, with no gas connection. Siding and roofing are steel or fibre cement, both with a high recycled content and mounted with removeable fasteners for easy disassembly. Paints and stains have low or no VOCs and the use of adhesives was avoided. Overall, this was a challenging but very satisfying project, requiring creativity and commitment to navigate the incentives and constraints of the zoning to meet the client’s expectations. The result confirms that sustainable incentives of this kind work.

Allison Holden-Pope, Architect AIBC, LEED AP BD+C Is principal of ONE SEED Architecture + Interiors in Vancouver.

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MOSAÏQ COMMUNITY HOUSING By Marc Thivierge The construction of the affordable housing complex known as “Mosaïq” is part of a much larger multiblock redevelopment set in the urban core of Ottawa’s Little Italy. The program called for a significant increase in density while designing to the stringent sustainability provisions of Passive House (PHIUS).

Urban infill delivers comfort and affordable living The initial concept of a single taller passive house building evolved into a three-building scheme which eased community acceptance and made for a more resolved urban experience. However, the budget implications meant that the passive house component had to be contained to the taller building. Nevertheless, the townhouses are integral to the project as they are tied into the overall energy system. Excess energy from the townhouses is used to heat the larger building, and their roof surfaces also account for a large proportion of the photovoltaic array. Super-insulated airtight building envelopes reduce utility costs significantly for the low-income tenants. A partnership with Hydro Ottawa provides carbon neutral hydro-electric power in exchange for electricity generated by the building’s large rooftop PV array.

1. The front façade with the existing Rochester Towers beyond, another property owned by Ottawa Community Housing. A partnership with Hydro Ottawa provides carbon neutral hydro-electric power in exchange for electricity generated by the large rooftop photovoltaic array.

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Site plan 1

N 1. Three-storey stacked townhouses 2. Six-storey residential building 3. Parking 4. Children playground 5. Community gardens

5 3

The site is part of a large urban parcel that was developed for social housing in the 1960s. After more than 50 years, those original townhomes had reached the end of their service life. This project is the first phase of a sustainable design vision that will provide higher density affordable housing while weaving into the existing urban fabric and enhancing community life. Site design included preserving some of the site’s existing trees, maintaining 35% of the site as landscaped open space with native plants, a children’s play area, and permeable surfaces to reduce stormwater runoff.

The integration of pedestrian paths with an array of amenity spaces and activity centres provides a platform for community building and health. These include a gym, community garden, maker room, teaching kitchen, and multipurpose rooms. With easy access to nearby bike paths, cycling is encouraged as well with the provision of generous bike storage and maintenance facilities. The building envelope consists of continuous insulation, the elimination of thermal bridges, highperformance triple-pane windows with U-values (IP) between 0.13 and 0.145, and air sealing of exterior components to 0.08 cfm50/ft². Fresh air is provided through balanced ventilation with heat and moisture recovery. The building was designed with window-to-wall ratios optimized by orientation and to achieve a radiation balance that allows winter solar gain to offset heating needs; and with window reveal depths, shading elements and glazing SHGC tuned to mitigate unwanted solar gains in the summer.

2. Looking east past the parking to the children playground.

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Prefinished aluminum panel and surround panels mounted to galvanized rain screen system,100mm air space

25mm galvanized furring @ 600mm o.c.

265mm thermally efficient clip through insulation @ 600mm o.c. anchored through sheathing to wood studs Air/vapour barrier membrane - reinforced sbs modified bitumen self-adhesive over composite membrane High efficiency INLINE fiberglass triple glazed windows w. perimeter spray foam 19mm plywood sill support Brick ties c/w a/v membrane

A/v barrier lapped over shelf angle, 150mm min. overlaps 92mm brick veneer, 50mm air space Thermally broken masonry shelf angle 265mm thermally efficient clip through insulation @ 600mm o.c. anchored through sheathing to wood studs Prefinished aluminum “colour accent panels” 200mm semi-rigid insulation mechanically fastened (r34.4) Prefinished siding & trims 13mm exterior gypsum sheathing - exterior glass mat gypsum substrate 2x6 wood studs @ 400mm o.c. 50mm spray foam insulation 16mm gypsum board Prefinished aluminum sill flashing

Cast-in-place concrete foundation wall

Typical wall assembly at window

These measures, along with the superior building envelope, and use of thermal mass via a hybrid construction of 5/8-in. drywall on wood studs and concrete floors and ceilings allowed the size of the heat pump needed for space conditioning to be reduced. The certified modelled heating annual energy intensity is 10.94 kWh/m²/yr and modelled cooling annual energy intensity is 5.56 kWh/m²/yr. The project produces about 138,000 kWh/yr from its onsite photovoltaic array, comprising 21% of the building’s site energy demand.

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92mm brick veneer, 50mm air space Thermally broken masonry shelf angle

These strategies reduce space conditioning loads and annual demands such that the minimal space conditioning required for comfort during the heating and cooling seasons can be provided by an air-to-water heat recovery heat pump that produces two to three units of heating/ cooling energy output for every one unit of electricity input. Domestic hot water production utilizes drain water heat recovery with the remaining hot water demand covered 40% by the same air-towater heat recovery heat pump and 60% by an air-source heat pump at rates up to 200% more efficient than conventional hot water heaters.

2 5

2 4

1 3 2 2 4

1 3

Typical bachelor floor plan Floor plans 1. Living/dining room 2. Bedroom 3. Kitchen 4. Bathroom 5. Entry

Typical 1-bedroom floor plan

Typical 3-bedroom floor plan

3. Detail of windows by INLINE Fiberglass at south facade. In the event of power outages, the highperformance building envelopes would allow residents to shelter comfortably in place indefinitely, with ventilation systems remaining operational via the emergency back-up generator. 4. Courtyard and play area.

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PROJECT INFO SITE AREA 4,715 m2 BUILDING GROSS FLOOR AREA 8,903 m2 ENERGY INTENSITY 60.6 KWhr/m2/year [Includes base building and process energy] REDUCTION IN ENERGY INTENSITY BASED ON NECB 2015 18% PROJECT CREDITS OWNER Ottawa Community Housing ARCHITECT Hobin Architecture: Marc Thivierge, Doug Brooks, Gord Lorimer, Barry Hobin

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER WSP CIVIL ENGINEER DSEL ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER Goodkey Weedmark and Associates LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT CSW Landscape Architects PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGNER Prudence Ferreira COMMISSIONING AGENT Geo-Energie Inc GENERAL CONTRACTOR EllisDon BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTANT AND ENERGY MODELLING Morrison Hershfield INTERIOR DESIGN Grant-Henley Design PHOTOS 1, 2, 4, 6: Gleb Gomberg; 3: Steve Clifford, 5: Arriv Properties

5. The Passive House design makes utility costs affordable and provides a healthy living environment with natural light. 6. View of a lounge area. The mechanical system harvests waste heat for reuse in the buildings. Continuous fresh air ventilation is provided by two Swegon Gold RX energy recovery ventilators with MERV 13 filtration.

Continuous fresh air ventilation is provided by two energy recovery ventilators with MERV 13 filtration, predominant sensible recovery efficiency of 86%, predominant humidity recovery of 75%, and electric efficiency of 0.61 W/cfm. The building's superior indoor air quality is supported with an average air change rate of 0.57/hr. Plumbing fixtures with water savings features are provided, including low-flow toilets. Sinks in common areas operate on electric eyes to eliminate the risk of a faucet left running in addition to being more sanitary. We addressed occupant health using materials such as low-VOC paints and non-toxic adhesives and sealants, with the envelope contributing to thermal and acoustic comfort. The building is clad with brick, cement board and metal siding.

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Sustainable elements are showcased throughout the building as a means for users and visitors to gain a heightened understanding of the strategies implemented. Information and notice boards placed within public spaces and circulation areas promote awareness and expectations about the benefits of passive house buildings. Within the lobby, additional engagement video screens will display real time data on the building performance, waste diversion objectives and sustainable information sessions relating to the property. Mosaïq strives to provide the users with much more than simple shelter. The Passive House design makes tenant-borne utility costs truly affordable, providing a healthy living environment while freeing up resources for other uses.

Marc Thivierge, Architect OAA, MRAIC is a partner with Hobin Architecture Inc.

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SABMag - FALL 2023

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BUILDING NX Retrofit A first for Passive House certification By Holly Jordan Building NX was constructed in 1989 as the main library for Humber College, also serving as the gateway to its North Campus. When the main library and entrance moved to the Learning Resource Commons, the five-storey concrete structure became an office area for faculty. 1. The design team identified the strategies necessary to achieve the desired performance goals, such as replacing windows and walls with highperformance assemblies, removing chamfers from the building form, improving roof insulation, and more. 1

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In 2015, Humber College launched its Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP) a long-term strategy designed to achieve 50% reductions in energy and water consumption and 30% reduction in carbon emissions across all its campuses by 2034. With major deficiencies in its base building systems and building envelope, including water leakage and air infiltration, a complete retrofit of Building NX was identified as a high priority.

2 3

Typical of 1980s design and construction, Building NX featured large sections of glass block and geometric articulation of the building form. The extensive use of glass block reduced the thermal performance of the envelope; increased interior glare, and limited prime views to the campus courtyard. A large central skylight and a protruding entrance were vulnerable to water leakage and were also major sources of heat loss.

Site plan 1. North Campus

2. Building H

3. Building NX

Building NX strategies - Replace windows & walls with high performance assemblies - Remove chamfers (reduce surface area) - Remove & infill skylight (eliminate thermal and water leakage) - Internalize vestibule (actively heated, minimize heat loss) - Structurally and thermally separate canopy from building

DESIGN APPROACH Given these existing conditions, the design team identified the strategies necessary to achieve the desired performance goals: • Replace windows and walls with high-performance assemblies • Remove chamfers from building form to reduce surface area • Improve roof insulation • Remove and infill skylight to address thermal and water leakage • Internalize vestibule to minimize heat loss • Separate canopy from building, both structurally and thermally Following the change of occupancy from library to office in 2015, staff quickly found that the building was drafty, and work stations experienced solar glare and uneven lighting. To address these issues, the new building envelope uses punched windows with vision glazing, lower heads, and sills raised to desk height. Larger glazed openings are used at entrances and in key common areas. Overall, the window-to-wall ratio has been reduced from 44% to 14%, yet still provides daylight to workspaces. Additionally, the high-performance, triple-glazed units achieve a superior level of thermal comfort, introduce operable windows and re-establish the visual relationship between interior and exterior. To improve airflow, the HVAC system was upgraded to a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) with local heating and cooling and heat pumps for space conditioning.

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2. The window-to-wall ratio has been reduced from 44% to 14%, yet still provides daylight to workspaces through high-performance, triple-glazed units.

The original building in 1989.

Aluminum Composite Panels

Stainless Steel

Corrugated Steel 3

3. Detail of the aluminum panels, and corrugated and stainless steel cladding. Exterior cladding diagram

This type of HVAC design eliminates simultaneous heating and cooling in spaces and provides superior air quality as the return air is not recirculated in the building. In addition to the operable windows in the enclosed offices, workspaces now have occupant temperature controls throughout to ensure thermal comfort. Decoupling Building NX from the campus’ central utility plant was critical to the performance of the project. To do this, an air-source variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system was used which recovers and transfers heat between zones like a water-source VRF, but exchanges heat with the ambient air instead of the plant’s water loop. The envelope upgrade complements the new mechanical system. Each room is directly ventilated with sufficient air flow to improve indoor air quality significantly. Interior light levels are controlled through the OSRAM Encelium lighting system which includes natural light and occupancy sensors.

PASSIVE DESIGN The passive design strategies, including the size and placement of windows and the high-performance building envelope, greatly reduce the energy input required to heat and cool the building; while the new dedicated outdoor air system with heat pumps for space conditioning, eliminates the use of fossil fuels on site. Additionally, a 31 kWh photovoltaic rooftop array provides an onsite renewable resource that helps to offset the already extremely low energy demand of the building. Close attention was paid to the selection and assembly of the building envelope components. Availability, lead times, costs, performance, and ease of construction were all considered in developing the building details. For example, the team researched a variety of insulation types and combinations, alongside thermally-broken clip types. Some solutions were more cost effective and/or higherperformance, such as the thermal break fasteners and window selection, while others were more readily available and enhanced constructability, namely the exterior mineral wool combined with interior spray foam insulation.

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PROJECT PERFORMANCE TOTAL ENERGY INTENSITY (UPGRADED BUILDING) = 58.4 kWh/m2/year • BASE BUILDING = 64 kWh/m2/year • PROCESS ENERGY = 22kWh/m2/year • ONSITE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION = 31 kWh PHOTOVOLTAIC ROOFTOP ARRAY ENERGY REDUCTION COMPARED TO EXISTING BUILDING = 70%

Continuous a.v.b. adhered to ext. sheathing

Structural framing at window head support

E.T.A. Thru-wall flashing over pre-cut xps foam

Slotted for utility, to be filled with s.f.i.

Compression block insulation

PROJECT TEAM ARCHITECT B+H Architects OWNER/DEVELOPER Humber College GENERAL CONTRACTOR Bird Construction ELECTRICAL / MECHANICAL ENGINEER Morrison Hershfield STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Morrison Hershfield COMMISSIONING AGENT Morrison Hershfield ENERGY MODEL RDH Building Science Inc BUILDING ENVELOPE Morrison Hershfield PHOTOS Double Space Photo

Spray foam insulation

1.5mm pre-fin alum. closure

Sealant

Solid surface sill

3mm pre-fin alum. plate, "stainless steel finish" E.T.A.

4. Interior light levels are controlled through the OSRAM Encelium lighting system which includes natural light and occupancy sensors.

Integrate membranes

Structural stud framing

E.T.A. Insulation compression block

Nested 92mm structural studs full height, window jamb support typ

Pre-cut XPS insulation Custom pressure plate angle

Spray foam insulation

1.5mm pre-fin alum. closure

Shim Sealant Solid surface sill below Triple-pane high-efficiency glazing unit compliant with passivhaus standards

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C/S fastener

Wall section

3mm pre-fin alum. plate shading fin ("stainless steel finish")

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Working together, the design and construction teams developed a sequenced approach to install longer lead-time windows from the interior of the building, while providing a fully sealed envelope once installed. This kept the project on schedule, while improving the overall performance of the building. Energy demand will vary with occupancy and associated plug loads over the course of the year. Peak occupancy is from September to December – with a holiday break – and then again from January to April. The summer months are relatively quiet. Overall, reductions of 70% energy use intensity, 90% GHG emissions, and 97% heating energy have been achieved compared to the existing building – far exceeding the goals of Humber’s IEMP. Our industry is facing the expensive challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and finding ways to heat and cool buildings without burning fossil fuels. As work progressed, Building NX became an example of how a holistic approach to sustainability can succeed.

The work on Building NX not only rectifies the poor building envelope and thermal comfort issues it was experiencing, but it also serves as a showcase example to the building industry on how to perform deep, zero carbon, energy efficiency retrofits on existing buildings in the southern Ontario climate. A year after work began, Building NX became the first retrofit to achieve a Zero Carbon Building (ZCB)– Design certification from the Canada Green Building Council. The certification reflects both the challenge of retrofitting and comprehensively upgrading an existing building, and the positive impact Building NX will have on future projects. And to top if off, in 2022 Building NX became the first institutional project to achieve Passive House EnerPHit certification for existing buildings.

Holly Jordan is a Principal and Global Sustainability Lead at B+H Architects.

5. Courtyard view of Building NX flanked by Building N. In addition to greatly improving the overall performance of the building envelope, replacing the expanses of glass block with clear, high performance glazing units improved the visual connection for occupants to the surrounding campus. 5

SABMag - FALL 2023

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https://sabmagazine.com/product-directory/ SABMag - FALL 2023

1. The Wellington entrance and restaurant space. The stone-clad podium level with a wood entrance wall, and glazing pattern above, are aesthetic departures from the standard box that often characterizes low-cost development.

THE WELLINGTON Good design and high performance break stereotype of affordable housing By Stephen Kopp Located at the historic intersection of Union & Wellington streets in the heart of Saint John, The Wellington is a 6-storey mixed-use development, with ground floor commercial space and 5 upper floors containing a total of 47 affordable and market rate apartment units.

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Site plan

1. The Wellington 2. Stone Church 3. Loyalist House

On a tight urban site, the building massing steps back in three volumes to reveal the neighbouring landmark Loyalist House, views of historic church towers on Germain Street, and the leafy maples of Queen Square in the distance. A quarried stone-clad podium level with a wood entrance wall, together with the striking glazing pattern above are aesthetic departures from the standard box that often characterizes low-cost development. In the city of Saint John 22.5% of people live in poverty. There are many barriers to people breaking the cycle of poverty, at the heart of which is access to affordable housing. Affordable housing projects often look low-cost, resulting in residents being further ostracized by their communities. These realities reinforce acre Architects’ conviction that modern housing should encompass sustainability, affordability and accessibility, and at the same time counter the stereotype that affordability and good design are mutually exclusive.

DESIGN APPROACH Designed to international Passive House standards, The Wellington is the first (soon to be) PH certified affordable housing project completed in Atlantic Canada. The building employs the main tenets of Passive House design, and while not unique in its approach, the building exceeded performance expectations during its multiple testing periods. As such, it has set an important precedent for the Maritimes. 2. The Wellington is the first (soon to be) PH certified affordable housing project completed in Atlantic Canada.

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Floor plans 1

4 6 9

2 11

Ground floor

17 18

19 20

21 17

Upper floor

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1. Vestibule 2. Commercial Rental Unit 3. Parcel Room 4. Lounge 5. Vestibule 6. Corridor 7. Vestibule 8. Garbage/Recycling 9. Elevator 10. Lobby 11. Vestibule 12. Washroom 13. Storage 14. Community Room 15. Commercial Rental Unit 16. One bedroom Unit 17. Two bedroom Unit 18. Accessible Unit 19 . Corridor 20. Laundry 21. Elevator

In keeping with Passive House standards, Acre Architects created an envelope with a balance of airtight design, high insulation value, and carefully considered window details. Beyond the base wall assembly, which achieves a min. R-value of 55 for the roof and 37 for the walls, coordination with mechanical and electrical consultants was critical to minimize penetrations through the building envelope. Internally, the heating and cooling system for the Wellington employs a highly efficient variable refrigerant flow (VRF) design that is able to deliver simultaneous heating and cooling year round. Each suite is equipped with a wall mounted evaporator unit that is integrated into the central VRF system. The system is able to meet the heating targets even on the coldest days of the year. On exceptionally cold days, the building is equipped with electric baseboard heaters that supplement the heating load if required.

5/8" gypsum wall board, painted 3 1/2" semi-rigid mineral wool insulation board (r15), staggered joints

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Wall construction detail

3. A staggered window pattern designed within the confines of a typical built-up header system, paired with a playful exterior extrusion, disguises the fact that the exterior walls are load bearing. 4. Gold window frame extrusion detail. High-performing windows and frames were sought, with the additional ambition of finding a thin, low-profile frame in contrast to the less elegant ‘chunky’ units often used. The window units were sealed during installation with Contega Tape from 475 High Performance Building Supply.

SABMag - FALL 2023

Saint John is known for its historic masonry structures. When developing the exterior expression of The Wellington, Acre was inspired by the layered façade articulations of these rich, textured vernacular examples in their creation of a new, modern look and feel. The aesthetic objective was an emphatic departure from the typical affordable housing model of stacked and flat window facades. Instead, a staggered window pattern was designed within the confines of a typical built-up header system; paired with a simple yet playful exterior extrusion. This disguises the fact that the exterior walls are load bearing (one of the hallmarks of six-storey wood construction). The lively pattern of gold-coloured window frames against a background of black corrugated metal panels changes in intensity as one approaches the building.

PROJECT CREDITS OWNER/DEVELOPER Saint John Non-Profit Housing Inc. ARCHITECT Acre Architects GENERAL CONTRACTOR John Flood & Sons Construction COMMISSIONING (PHIUS VERIFICATION) RDH Building Science ENERGY MODELLING ZON Engineering LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Brackish Landscape Studio CIVIL ENGINEER Fundy Engineering & Consulting ELECTRICAL/ MECHANICAL ENGINEER Fundy Engineering & Consulting STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Blackwell Structural Engineers FIRE PROTECTION RJ Bartlett Engineering Ltd. PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANT Zon Engineering PHOTOS Julien Parkinson PROJECT PERFORMANCE ENERGY INTENSITY REDUCTION RELATIVE TO REFERENCE BUILDING (DESIGN CALCULATION UNDER 2015 NECB) = 57% * ENERGY INTENSITY (HEATING AND COOLING) = 10.1 KWhr/m2/year ENERGY INTENSITY (HEATING) = 6.8 KWh/m2/year ENERGY INTENSITY (COOLING) = 3.2 KWh/m2/year

5. Each suite is equipped with a wall mounted evaporator unit that is integrated into the central variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system to deliver simultaneous heating and cooling year round. 6. and 7. The residential units were designed to Universal Design standards (with two being entirely barrier free) for accessibility and ageing-in-place.

SABMag - FALL 2023

One of the key components of Passive House design is to eliminate thermal bridging at the window frames. In multi-unit buildings window frames can become a particular area of concern. Accordingly, Acre set out to source high-performing windows and frames, with the additional ambition of finding a thin, low-profile frame; in contrast to the often ‘chunky’ units used in sustainable building projects. Following a lengthy research period, fibreglass windows were specified as they met the selection criteria and were also available in the larger sizes the design required. Around the building, there is no difference in window sizes. Different calculations for solar heat gain were completed during design development but there was negligible difference in overall energy consumption, in large part due to the high performing windows (in concert with the wall assemblies). However, higher performance emissivity coatings were used on the south and west facades. AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY An important benefit of Passive House buildings is that the considerable savings on energy costs can translate into lower rents than a standard code-compliant building would allow. Aligning with the affordability ambitions of The Wellington, the heating and ventilation systems described above were designed with this in mind. Accessible residential design was an integral part of the project mandate from the beginning, in recognition of our aging population. All the residential units in The Wellington were designed to Universal Design standards (with two being entirely barrier free). It was important for this project to accommodate ageing-in-place to actively make the statement that fully inclusive design can be enjoyed by everyone safely, with ease, and with dignity. The intentional mix of 24 market rate units and 23 affordable units is designed to encourage a diverse tenant demographic; further bolstered by the participation of the L'Arche Connects program and the project’s dedicated accessible units.

L’Arche is a supported independentliving model for adults with intellectual disabilities and The Wellington provides an infrastructure that helps foster independence for its tenants regardless of their varied needs. Passive House projects consume up to 90% less heating and cooling energy when compared to conventional buildings. How does the ability to heat a unit with the energy equivalent to powering a single lightbulb translate into helping break the poverty cycle? The social and economic benefits are leveraged on the premise that high energy savings through strict building design criteria can greatly reduce the cost of living. This is at the core of The Wellington’s success in meeting the sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity objectives established at the outset of the project.

Stephen Kopp is Co-founder and Principal of Acre Architects in Saint John, NB.

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A FRAMEWORK FOR REGENERATIVE DESIGN

According to the August 2021 report from Working Group 1 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (WPG-1), ‘it is only possible to avoid warming of 1.5 °C or 2.0 °C with associated catastrophic impacts, if massive and immediate cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are made’ before 2030. In short, we have less than eight years to drastically reduce global carbon emissions and avoid the direst impacts of climate change. By Colin Rohlfing As we know, the built environment plays a significant role in climate change — from how projects are constructed, to how they’re used, to how they are disassembled at end of life. For some time now, the design and construction field has implemented increasingly stringent “high performance” design practices to minimize those impacts and there have been progress. Since the implementation of the AIA 2030 Challenge in 2005, the building sector has reduced GHG emissions by 30% even with a nearly 20% increase in floor area. The industry is on target to achieve a 72% reduction by the year 2030. However, these reductions alone are not enough and we must keep pushing towards faster, net positive benefits for a variety of focus areas such as water, ecology, human health and equity. As a design industry, we must radically transform the way we approach design; to think beyond the immediate boundaries of our projects to EMBRACE broader interconnected social and ecological systems. We must move beyond the equilibrium of sustainability towards design that has net positive benefits. We need to think about our developments not in the context of doing less harm, but actually doing good. In other words, our projects need to actively regenerate or contribute positive impacts to the people who use them and the local ecology that surrounds them.

Framework

REGENERATIVE DESIGN The term “Regenerative Design” describes a process that mimics nature itself by restoring or renewing its own sources of energy and materials. At HDR, we view regenerative design as design that reconnects humans and nature through the continuous renewal of evolving socio-ecological systems. It emulates natural systems for the continuous renewal of societal and ecological functions. A Regenerative Design approach embodies six core principles: 1. Regenerative design achieves net-positive impacts for ecology, health and society. A regenerative project establishes performance metrics in these three areas to remediate the harm that has resulted from decades of conventional development. Because it emulates natural ecological systems, regenerative design incorporates leading edge design for wellness and actively participates in unique, place-driven solutions that address issues of social equity. 2. Regenerative design is flexible, and can be applied to all project types and sizes. Regenerative design does not discriminate, nor does it apply only to certain types of projects. HDR has developed a regenerative design framework that has the ability to accommodate design projects of all sizes, typologies and levels of performance.

Key performance indicator

Project prioritization Regenrative framework process

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Exterior view of the Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters.

The framework moves beyond conventional high performance design to pursue “net positive” impacts for carbon, water, nutrients, air, biodiversity, social and health categories. 3. Regenerative design is evidence based, data driven and measured against multiple metrics. Regenerative project goals are established using a pristine reference site as a baseline. Its associated natural performance metrics exceed code and regulatory standards. These metrics are scientifically defensible and are established using Geographical Information System (GIS) maps; together with data from federal and provincial governments; and research conducted by universities and other recognized social and ecological enterprises.

4. Regenerative design continuously evolves and renews. Regenerative design includes projection modelling of place-appropriate performance indicators in the following categories: • air • carbon • water • nutrients

• biodiversity • health • social equity and community wellbeing

These indicators will fluctuate and are influenced by short- and long-term disturbances of socio-ecological systems.

Regenerative Design Framework Process Diagram The regenerative design process takes place within the social and ecological Framework (1), starts with the identification of Key Performance Indicators (2),followed by Project Prioritization (3), Benchmarking and Goal Setting (4), and finally Modelling and Verification (5).

Benchmarking /goal setiing

Modeling and verification

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View of the lobby in the Orange County Sanitation district Headquarters.

5. Regenerative design incorporates and builds upon existing paradigms. Everything we have been doing as a firm and an industry has been building to true regenerative design performance levels and this type of design thinking should be considered an “umbrella” over everything that we have been working towards in the past few decades. The following paradigms are included in our regenerative design framework: • Triple Net-Zero (energy, water and waste) • Carbon Balancing (embodied and operational carbon) • Health and Wellness Design • Materials Transparency • Resiliency • Social Equity 6. Regenerative design continuously engages and involves the community. A project should maintain and inspire continual stakeholder engagement to harmonize community values with project goals and to plan for future co-evolution of socio-ecological systems.

HDR has applied these principles to numerous projects including: HAMILTON COMMUNITY PLAN WA On average Hamilton Washington has faced flooding events every 3 1/2 years and the severity of these events is increasing due to climate change. Using a triple net zero approach for energy water and waste to address this challenge, HDR designed a community that works in concert with nature and is situated above the 500- year flood plain. The design is highly resilient and reconnects humans with natural systems. ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS CA The Orange County sanitation district has administrative headquarters in California; a 100,000 square foot net positive energy office complex, which also achieves a 180% reduction in embodied carbon for construction, through the use of mass timber, the reduction of interior finishes and a prevalence of renewable materials. Over its lifetime, the project is estimated to sequester over 360 metric tons of carbon to help balance the operational and embodied carbon equation. Projects like these have allowed us to imagine a world where buildings actually give more than they take -so much so that we’ve developed an online interactive tool that helps design teams capture and think through these strategies as part of the design process from day one.

Regenerative Design Scales Diagram: Each of the regenerative design strategies can be applied at a variety of scales 40

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The path to net zero energy and carbon requires careful analysis of all contributing factors, including materials, systems and energy sources.

THE ONLINE TOOL With more than 125 data sets and 40 calculators that are unique to a given site and location, this tool places the project in the appropriate context, by establishing an ecological baseline. Location-specific data sets inform design metrics and enable design teams to quickly assess specific climate change scenarios for temperature and precipitation that may impact building systems; 100 and 500 year flood maps that should be considered for detailed resiliency planning; water use impacts for both potable and process water; regional air quality index statistics for each day of the year to help drive health and passive design decisions; community social vulnerability indicators that identify sectors of the community that are at risk; census level data that digs deeper into air quality concerns that affect human health issues; and the realities of social inequality. The data enables us to design our projects to acknowledge and address negative impacts that the built environment is having on disadvantaged or vulnerable communities.

It changes our approach on how a project should perform through its entire lifecycle (cradle to cradle). Regenerative design creates an opportunity for new supply chains and increased availability of resources for future projects of all types, both vertical buildings and horizontal infrastructure such as roads, bridges and water systems. It also changes our approach to community development issues, given the need to plan in a way that supports at risk or disenfranchised populations, promotes attainably-priced housing and brings issues of social equity to the forefront of a design. In the end, regenerative design is about taking responsibility and action for mitigating the harmful impacts of the carbon emissions caused by the buildings we design. It’s about a design lens that is evolving to be more holistic, data-driven and renewal-focused. The challenges that face us can be daunting, but nothing has more strength than dire necessity. Instead of letting fear overcome us, we have another option - which is to act.

Colin Rohlfing is the sustainable development director at HDR, inc.

This new data driven design approach changes our fundamental thinking about long-term building operations and their impacts on the local community and ecology.

FOOTNOTE: HDR is hoping to release a simplified version of this tool for public use. Because it currently contains over 125 data sets and 40 calculators, there is inherent risk if the data sets change or the calculations are disputed. The company is exploring the best way to mitigate legal risk while still providing an open tool for industry collaboration.

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OF NATURE: VIEWPOINT RIGHTS Pathways to legal

Personhood for the Fraser River Estuary

Avery Pasternak

Kristen Walters

By Avery Pasternak and Kristen Walters, University of British Columbia and Raincoast Conservation Foundation

1.The Fraser River Estuary is one of BC’s most biodiverse regions.

“Imbuing the estuary with legal standing and personality captures the estuary’s intrinsic value as a living organism, beyond what resources it can provide to support economic growth and industrialization.”

Regulators are unable, or unwilling, to address many of the existential threats facing species and habitats within the Fraser River Estuary. In many cases, environmental law authorizes this ecosystem’s degradation by fragmenting interconnected habitats into ‘natural resources’ to be industrialized in the pursuit of economic growth.

INTRODUCTION The objective of this research project was to better understand the feasibility of granting legal personhood to the Fraser River Estuary. The resultingreport seeks to provide an overview of the key legal pathways towards recognition of nature as a rights- bearing legal subject. We examined case studies from jurisdictions across the world alongside the current state of Canada and British Columbia’s environmental law regime to determine which legal pathways are the most feasible to accord the Fraser River Estuary legal rights and recognition.

The regulatory landscape perpetuates land-use, water management, and species management decisions to be made in silos, failing to account for the cumulative effects ongoing habitat destruction and degradation has on the resilience of the estuarine ecosystem. The estuary, and all the living things it supports, are not viewed as having intrinsic worth.

PROJECT CONTEXT As the largest river in western Canada and one of the most productive salmon-bearing rivers in the world, the Fraser River is a critically important ecosystem and economic driver for the region. The Fraser River Estuary, located at the mouth of the river where it meets Georgia Strait in the Pacific Ocean, is one of the province’s most biodiverse regions, providing vital habitat for many bird, fish, and mammal species. Juvenile salmon rely on this estuary for food and protection during a critical phase of their development as they transition from freshwater to the marine environment. However, ongoing colonization and industrialization have had devastating impacts on estuarine ecosystem health and Fraser River salmon populations. Governance of the estuary is antiquated, and the current state of Canada’s environmental laws take an extractive approach to ecosystem management that fails to protect plant and animal species. British Columbia, a province whose identity is tied to its biodiversity, has no standalone protections for wildlife, such as endangered species legislation. 42

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Economic imperatives consistently override the need for ecological protection, and as a result, threaten the very existence of one of the most ecologically important regions in the province. The Rights of Nature is a growing body of law that seeks to reframe how nature is conceptualized under the law, and subsequently how it is governed, by broadening the legal impetus for its protection. Laws granting rights to nature are not a catch-all solution, but rather a supplement to pre-existing conservation, restoration, and species recovery initiatives. The report explores the permutations of rights of nature laws in jurisdictions worldwide and examines their compatibility within Canada’s regulatory environment. It seeks to determine how granting the Fraser River Estuary legal rights and standing could produce much-needed changes to governance in the region and how those changes could accelerate conservation efforts already taking place. RIGHTS OF NATURE PRECEDENTS A global survey of Rights of Nature laws reveals the diversity of their permutations, informed by the legal system, cultural context, and political landscape in which they are enacted. They can be sorted into six distinct legal “pathways”: • Constitutional law: several countries have entrenched the rights of nature in their nation’s central organizing legal document, requiring all subsequent State action and legislation to respect the rights of nature

These agreements should then be implemented through local laws that delineate the rights of the river and responsibilities owed to it in a manner aligned with each Nation’s culture, worldview, and historical relationship to the ecosystem.

2. Economic imperatives often override the need for ecological protection.

• National or subnational law: national governments have granted rights to all natural ecosystems within the country as a part of broader environmental reforms. • Local law: local governments have sought to oppose industrial activity in their community by granting ecosystems legal rights and civilians the standing to enforce those rights in court. • Indigenous law: Indigenous governments have enacted rights of nature laws in attempts to codify their own laws and belief systems. • Judge-made law: in several jurisdictions, judges have unilaterally extended legal recognition and rights to nature without the government having passed legislation. • Treaty: settler governments have reached landmark agreements with Indigenous communities, some of which have included provisions that recognize specific ecosystems as legal subjects entitled to legal rights. Each of these pathways differs in its effectiveness at achieving the purported benefits of Rights of Nature laws. PROJECT SCOPE AND METHODS Case studies for each legal “pathway” were selected to provide an overview of how Rights of Nature have been accorded in legal systems across the world. Each pathway was then assessed along a range of qualitative factors that included their strength, scope, ease of implementation, enforceability, and feasibility within the Canadian legal context. RECOMMENDATIONS Based on an assessment of each pathway along several different criteria, including 1) the legal content (the law’s scope and strength), 2) the form of law, and 3) the feasibility within the Canadian context – the following solutions emerged as the most compatible for according the Fraser River Estuary Rights of Nature: • Local laws passed by Indigenous and local governments with jurisdiction over the region that recognize the estuary as a legal entity and rights-holder. • Intergovernmental agreements among Indigenous governments that recognize the legal status of the estuary.

To be effective, the content of any Rights of Nature law must balance breadth of protections with the specificity required to implement the law and uphold the rights granted. Elements of a robust Rights of Nature law include: • Rights and responsibilities that are clearly identified and defined; • Indicators to define and measure the rights accorded; • Enforcement mechanisms to ensure these rights can be upheld; • Provisions that allow for the ranking and resolving of competing interests. • Legal recognition of any kind must be accompanied by governance reform in the form of guardianship, management body, or co-governance model. Governance reform should be Indigenous-led and adopt a two-eye seeing approach informed by Indigenous knowledge and Western science that weaves knowledge of the lands, waters, and living things of which the estuary is composed. While we have made recommendations on the legal pathways most compatible with the Canadian legal system, and most likely to produce conservation outcomes, it does not dictate what the content of said laws should be or assign responsibility for their development or implementation. Ultimately, Rights of Nature laws are a tool to grant natural ecosystems more agency within a legal system and prompt governance reform, but are not a “one size fits all” solution. Therefore, the intent of this report is to provide an overview of how other jurisdictions have implemented Rights of Nature laws, analyze these cases, and provide recommendations to policymakers about which pathways are best suited to the Canadian context and could make a meaningful impact on the governance of the Fraser River Estuary. ABOUT THIS REPORT AND ITS AUTHORS The report was produced as part of the University of British Columbia’s Sustainability Scholars Program, which is designed to advance applied research on regionally important sustainability issues. The project was a partnership between UBC and the Raincoast Conservation Foundation; with graduate student Avery Pasternak conducting research under the mentorship of Kristen Walters and Misty MacDuffee of Raincoast.

3. Ultimately, Rights of Nature laws are a tool to grant natural ecosystems more agency within a legal system. SABMag - FALL 2023

AWARDS

N GREE N B U A I ILD D A IN AN 2023

The annual program to recognize excellence in the design and execution of all types of sustainably-designed, highperformance Canadian residential and non-residential buildings and interiors, both new and renovated.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNING TEAMS

500 MACNAB SENIORS’ HOUSING / KEN SOBLE TOWER Existing Building Upgrade Award ERA Architects and PCL Construction (l. to r.): Lori O’Malley, Building Envelope Engineering Specialist, Andrew Norman, District Building Systems Manager, Andrew Vanderstraeten, Superintendent, Jonathan Rodrigues, Project Manager, Stephen Montgomery, Sustainability Specialist, and Mark Henderson, Manager, Building Revitalization, all of PCL Constructors Canada, Inc. The architects of the project: ERA Architects.

MANITOU A BI BII DAZIIGAE RRC POLYTECH Institutional (Large) Award Diamond Schmitt and Number TEN Architectural Group (left to right) Diamond Schmitt (l. to r.): Back row: Andrew Keung, Sydney Browne, Michael Leckman, Haley Zhou. Front row: Birgit Siber, Parnian Maddahi, Emre Goktay of Diamond Schmitt. Not present: Martin Davidson, Martin Gauthier, Lou-Salome Bienvenu, Solmaz Eshraghi, Steven Ischkin, Rui Hu, Tristan Crawford, Christiano Mahler, Sebastien Dion, Valerie Gomez, Marcela Ortiz, Halima Namugga, Darlene Magno. Number TEN Architectural Group (l. to r.): Back Row - Gabe Derksen, Michael Hiebert, Derek Martens. Front Row - Amanda Ross, Richard Cueto, Kat Kreftsun, Doug Hanna, Chelsea Lazar, Henry Bakker, Holly Handford. Missing from photo: Aruna Anaparti, all of number TEN architectural group.

BILL AND HELEN NORRIE LIBRARY Institutional (Small) Award LM Architectural Group (l. to r.): Heather West, Corey Greenham, Shelly Slobodzian, Tamara Maltman and Ryan Van Belleghem of LM Architectural Group | Environmental Space Planning.

ÆDIFICA HEADQUARTERS Interior Design Award Ædifica (l. to r.): Mélanie Pitre, Vice-President of Sustainable Development, and Vanessa Toralti, Technical Coordinator of Sustainable Development, Ædifica.

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PUTMAN FAMILY YWCA Technical Award Kearns Mancini architects inc. (l. to r.): Rick Sealey (Principal), Jonathan Kearns (CEO), Donna Eng (Senior Principal) and Peter Ng (Senior Principal) of Kearns Mancini Architects Inc.

NEIL CAMPBELL ROWING CENTRE

Residential (Small) Award Perkins&Will (l. to r.): Aik Ablimit, Cillian Collins, Alysia Baldwin of Perkins&Will.

Institutional (Small) Award MJMA + Raimondo + Associates Architects Inc. (left to right) MJMA (l. to r.): Tyler Walker and Robert Allen of MJMA Architecture & Design. Raimondo + Associates Architects Inc. (l. to r.): John-Alexander Raimondo and Emilio Raimondo of Raimondo + Associates Architects in joint venture with MJMA Architecture & Design.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING

ENDRESS + HAUSER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTRE

LOBLAWS GROCETERIA WAREHOUSE ADAPTIVE RE-USE

Residential (Large) Award Local Practice Architecture + Design (l. to r.): Annie Dahan, Geoff Cox, Graham Girard, Matthew Woodruff, and Maru Kim of Local Practice Architecture + Design.

Commercial/Industrial (Large) Award mcCallumSather Michelle Austin, MAATO, OBEC, LEED AP (Managing Principal, Operations) accepting the Commercial/Industrial (Large) Award on behalf of the team at mcCallumSather.

Mixed Use Award Alliance Architecture (l. to r.): Mark Cascella and Blair Robinson of architects – Alliance.

SOLO HOUSE

Thanks to our sponsors National Sponsor

Category Sponsors

INTERVIEW WITH Irene Rivera and Esther van Eeden: Designing the Passive House Putman Family YWCA

Esther van Eeden

Irene Rivera The Passive House certified Putman Family YWCA.

Irene Rivera, associate architect, and Esther van Eeden, director of high-performance buildings, at Kearns Mancini Architects in Toronto (kmai.com), were part of the design team of the Passive House certified Putman Family YWCA in Hamilton which received the Technical Award in the SABMag 2023 Canadian Green Building Awards, sabmagazine. com/2023-winners-sabmag-canadian-greenbuilding-awards. 1. Kearns Mancini had completed some Passive House projects previously, but why did you recommend Passive House construction for this project? Beyond energy efficiency, KMAI sees Passive House as a pathway to resiliency and social equity. During early client presentations on what Passive House can do, the client noticed that their core values and strategic priorities aligned perfectly with Passive House goals, and that is what got things rolling. KMAI worked with the client to provide the information necessary to secure environmental and energy incentives. In the end, the client embraced the benefits of Passive House design. 2. What drew you to use all precast concrete construction as opposed to other materials? The client wanted a building that was robust, both physically and aesthetically. They also wanted a factorybuilt solution to reduce the construction risks, so a precast concrete building was a good solution. The project was delivered with CCDC 5B-2010 Construction Management. The total precast system satisfies thermal, airtightness, and structural criteria in factory-built components from a local manufacturer. This reduced the use of traditional formwork, auxiliary elements, erection time and waste. 46

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3. How did you adapt the Passive House detailing to precast concrete? The precast concrete manufacturer adapted its wall system to meet Passive House requirements. After some research, a higher thermal conductivity exterior wall insulation was used, and the structural wall ties were swapped to achieve the maximum structural strength with the lowest thermal transmittance. The next step was to connect the different parts of the building envelope; there were many changes and design iterations until we found the optimal solution to meet the PH intent, constructability, and cost-effectiveness. Workshops were held to walk all disciplines through where the penetrations would be and how they would be insulated and sealed. This ensured correct locations for pre-drilling holes before the panels arrived at the site and avoided any changes on site. 4. What are the main lessons have you learned in the Passive House projects you have completed? One of the main lessons is having the Construction Manager and the manufacturer on board at an early stage of the design. This is crucial as throughout this project valuable insights into elements like design constraints, constructability, logistics, or specific trade scheduling can help reduce risks, costs, and expedite construction, making sure the Passive House certification can be met. Even the staff from the YWCA went through some passive house training. Another equally important lesson is that Passive House Design not be at odds with good architectural design, and the Putman YWCA building is the perfect example. This project redefines the way people think of energy-efficient design within the context of providing affordable housing. 5. Do you see Passive House design gaining more prominence in your future projects? Definitely. Passive House is the most rigorous energy performance standard in the world. It doesn’t take a tick-box approach to sustainability, and clients are starting to recognize the true energy savings Passive House buildings deliver and the value it unlocks. High-performance buildings are going to be the new normal and we as architects have a deep responsibility to act and not ignore the climate impacts of our buildings.

THANK

YOU

TO OUR

PARTNERS

Building Lasting Change is where change makers meet, and Canada’s building sector is inspired to do more, go further, and aim higher in our sustainability efforts. We want to thank all our partners, volunteers, staff, speakers, and attendees for joining us this year and everyone who helped make BLC 2023 a success. See you next year in Toronto!

PRES EN TING & L A N YA R D PA R T N E R GA L A D I N N E R & C E L E B R AT I O N

OPENING PL ENARY

N E T W O R K I N G LO U N G E

AT T E N D E E B R E A K FA S T

V I P C O C K TA I L RECEP TION

PRO GR AM S ESS ION

C LO S I N G P R O G R A M S ESS ION

PRO GR AM S ESS ION

AT T E N D E E B R E A K

TO U R PA R T N E R

P R I M E PA R T N E R

CONFERENCE SUPPORTER

C AG B C AWA R D S

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PRECAST CONCRETE BUILDS ON . . . MODULAR TOTAL PRECAST PASSIVE HOUSE STRUCTURES

LEARN ON DEMAND

LEARN

ON DEMAND

precast STREAM concrete

ON DEMAND

Total Precast Concrete Key Attributes to Passive House Development are:

free educational webinars

· Manufactured in local precast facilities under controlled conditions · The whole building envelope in one composite panel; air barrier, moisture control, insulation and the structure

· Hollowcore floor slabs allow for a much lower depth to span ratio · Hollowcore provides the lowest GWP per m2 of concrete floor area · Precast concrete dramatically reduces the construction schedule,

pREFAB Precast

site congestion, noise and environmental impacts

Project: The Putman Family YWCA, Hamilton, ON Architect: Kearns Mancini Architects Inc., Toronto, ON

PRECAST

pREFAB Precast

APPRENDRE SUR DEMANDE

CONCRETE For moreFREE information and EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS educational presentations check out Learn on Demand, a 24/7/365 Educational Platform. Visit: cpci-learnondemand.com/

LE BÉTON

PRÉFABRIQUÉ UNE SÉRIE DE FORMATIONS ÉDUCATIVES

For more information on Passive House Total Precast Concrete, visit www.cpci.ca/publications to download your free copies of the Structural Solutions Guide and the Putman Family YWCA Total Precast Concrete Publication. EDUCATION

E: info@cpci.ca | TF: 877.937.2724

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