4. Create an “area of refuge” Design an area of refuge with dedicated back-up power, where people can go to warm up/cool down, charge communication devices, and keep critical medications cool in the event of an extended power outage.

5. Create opportunities for social connection Knowing your neighbours is key in an emergency. Create complete communities where building residents can get to know one another by spreading amenities throughout the towers and creating shared spaces like stairwells that are desirable to use. Tightly-knit communities are more likely to be resilient in the event of unexpected disruptions.

When it comes to addressing climate resilience, the key is engaging in the conversation. Quadrangle takes our projects through Enbridge’s Savings by Design program because it presents a great opportunity to introduce new concepts, such as the ones noted above, and dialogue holistically about the building’s design. To find out how you can participate in an upcoming charrette visit commercial.savingsbydesign.ca.

Michelle Xuereb is a Senior Associate and Sustainability Strategist at Quadrangle.

SPRING 2018

Toronto FOCUS 19