Building Excellence - Spring 2021

T H E O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E O F T H E C A N A D I A N H O M E B U I L D E R S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N BUILDINGEXCELLENCE .CA

SPRING 2021

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SPRING 2021 VOL.4 ISSUE 1

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BE Your Best 6 7 8 12 14

John Meinen

CEO’S LETTER

Kevin Lee

DEVELOPER PROFILE

Concert Properties

BY THE NUMBERS

Housing Demographics

PAINTER’S PALETTE

2021’s Colours of the Year

Features

MY HOUSE DESIGN/BUILD TEAM LTD., SURREY, BC PHOTO BY DUY NGUYEN

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER

HIGH STAKES

COVID-19 and other issues facing high-rise developers

By Allan Britnell

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL Our 4th annual kitchens and baths compilation

By Blair Eveleigh

Insider Info

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MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

Manitoba’s Grandeur Housing

By Bernard Desjardins

RENOVATORS’ CORNER High-Rise Renovations

By Natasha Rombough

INSIDER INFO

Building Opportunities

By Mike Linehan, RBC

THE GIVING BACK PAGE Season’s Givings

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VOLUME 04, N UMBER 01 CEO Kevin Lee

EDITOR Allan Britnell

DIGITAL CONSULTANT Dave Gray

ART DIRECTOR/ PRODUCTION MANAGER Darrell Leighton

WEB MANAGER Regina Gadacz

SPRING 2021 DIRECTOR, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Natasha Rombough

VP MARKETING – GTA Leanne Speers

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Jacky Hill jacky.hill@nexthome.ca

SENIOR CLIENT RELATIONS SPECIALIST – GTA Sonia Presotto

EXECUTIVE MEDIA CONSULTANT Michael Rosset NEXTHOME EDITORS Wayne Karl, Rise Levy SENIOR VP, SALES NEXTHOME Hope McLarnon 416.708.7987 hope.mclarnon@nexthome.ca

MANAGER CUSTOMER SALES/SERVICE Marilyn Watling

Published by

SALES & MARKETING COORDINATORS Gary Chilvers, Vi Nguyen

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HOME SHOW MANAGER & NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION – GTA Josh Rosset DISTRIBUTION distributionteam@nexthome.ca

SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANTS Jessica Wilson 416.873.1049 jessica.wilson@nexthome.ca

ACCOUNTING INQUIRIES accountingteam@nexthome.ca

Natalie Chin 416.881.4288, natalie.chin@nexthome.ca

DIRECTOR OF PRINT MEDIA Lauren Reid–Sachs VP PRODUCTION – GTA Lisa Kelly

Julie DeBoer 613.875.6673 julie.deboer@nexthome.ca

PRODUCTION MANAGER – GTA Yvonne Poon

DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Amanda Bell

Published 4 times a year by NextHome, on behalf of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission. Building Excellence, NextHome, and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) are not responsible for any claims or promises in any advertisement, nor for any unsolicited material sent to the magazine. Canadian Publications Mail Agreement # 40065416

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P R E S I D E N T ’S m e s s a g e

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ENCOURAGE YOUR PEERS TO JOIN THE ASSOCIATION AND HELP DRIVE US FORWARD

BY JOHN MEINEN, CHBA PRESIDENT

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t’s hard to believe we’ve now passed the anniversary of the initial COVID-19 shutdown across the country. One year of adjusting how we work, of amping up health and safety measures, of reacting and adapting to dramatic swings in demand, of supply challenges and price escalations, and of uncertainty about what the next month and year will bring. I am so proud of how all levels of our association and our members have come together and taken on the new challenges we are facing with the high level of professionalism that we’re known for.

This year our industry has shown just how resilient is it. And our association staff at the local, provincial, and national levels have been resilient as well, with many offices transitioning to working from home, making difficult choices, re-planning events for a new virtual reality, and advocating at all levels of government for the important work that we do housing Canadians. As members, we are fortunate that within the association we have a network of individuals who are there to support us, advocate for us, and provide us with the tools, resources, and information that we need to

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keep our businesses thriving. Thank you to all the staff and member volunteers for your continued support and for the work you do.

I truly believe that now – more then ever – is the time to join our association. While 2021 appears promising, there are still a lot of unknowns ahead as we continue to navigate these choppy waters. The uncertainty of the supply chain or when lumber prices will stabilize are top of mind for many of us.

It has been a challenging year for members and for our association, and that’s why we must band together as we always do.

When we work as a team we’re at our strongest and are most effective.

We need to put in a concerted effort to grow our associations so that we can have an even bigger impact and increase what we do so well in government advocacy. I can attest to the fact that governments do listen to us – I’ve had the privilege of acting as president at all three levels and I’ve seen this in action.

They listen to us not just because we are respected as a professional organization, but because we’re an instrumental industry for the wellbeing of Canada’s economy.

I sincerely hope all members see the value that they get from CHBA. And not only that, but that you act as an ambassador and tell others about the important things this association works on and believes in. If we’ve had the pleasure of meeting in person, you know what an advocate I am for members recruiting members. It works, and it makes us stronger. If you have a colleague or business associate that’s not a member, tell them about your local association and why it’s important to join.

The crucial advocacy work that our association does is one of the main reasons members stay once they join and learn about

it, since it brings so much value to our businesses, but it’s not why most people join.

But as you know, there are so many other things you get out of being part of CHBA at all levels – and while advocacy is job one, some of the other benefits are better for getting new members in the door. Of course, there is all the networking (which I look forward to getting back up to full speed after the pandemic), but there are so many CHBA resources and tools, early and continuous access to information to help your business, group savings and discounts, opportunities for continued professional development, and even the ability to enter our many prestigious awards programs to get that important public recognition of the amazing work we do are all great reasons to become a member.

So, on that note, I’d like to wrap up by congratulating all of the finalists that were recently announced for the CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence. You can find the full list and see their projects at chba.ca/ housingawards. Despite the complications of the past year, we had a one of our best years to-date for entries, and I’m looking forward to seeing the winners presented during the virtual awards gala on May 7th. See you there, and bring your staff along to watch – and hopefully a prospective member or two too!

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C EO ’S m e s s a g e

HOME SWEET HOME CANADIANS’ DESIRE FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER

BY KEVIN LEE, CHBA CEO

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espite the craziness of the pandemic and all its challenges, projections indicate 2021 will be a strong year for residential construction. One thing the pandemic has done is redoubled the importance that Canadians place on “home.” Homeownership aspirations and consumer confidence continue to increase, which, combined with the current low-interest rate environment, is leading to record-breaking home sales and robust renovation activity.

The challenge for builders and renovators has been and will continue to be the supply chain and the current state of the lumber industry, which continues to impact residential construction – causing delays and adding costs for builders and renovators, and exacerbating housing affordability challenges for consumers. CHBA has been actively engaged on this issue since it began to surface last summer by engaging with the lumber industry, federal government, constituent associations, and the National Association of Home Builders in the U.S. to work to address this increasingly challenging situation as it has evolved.

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To inform members, the association hosted a webinar on the topic, which included a panel of lumber industry experts providing an overview of the issue and projections for the coming year. Nearly 1,000 members and HBA staff registered to attend, and the intense Q&A period lasted for more than 40 minutes. Members can view the full recording at chba.ca/webinars.

CHBA has also been heavily engaged with the media on the issue, not only to keep the topic front and centre for government decision-makers, but also to inform consumers.

It is important for our members that consumers understand the realities of the increases in construction costs being caused by material shortages and price increases.

CHBA will continue to advocate for a series of measures to sustain the residential construction sector, including the full supply chain, and to help offset some of the costs short-term as businesses scale up and resolve both COVID-related and more systemic issues.

The association’s pre-budget submission, Rebuilding Canada 2021: Home Construction and Renovation for a Healthier, More Resilient, and More Equitable Canada, includes recommendations to bolster the sector and its supply chains. Affordability remains a key concern, and work needs to be done to restore balance in the real estate markets by increasing supply to help stabilize prices, while making access to homeownership fairer and more affordable for Canadians. This will in turn take pressure off other parts of the housing continuum.

CHBA recommendations also include tax credits for renovations to make existing homes work better for Canadians as their situations change, including supporting

seniors with their housing choices. With respect to climate change, the association has several recommendations, notably to provide incentives for new efficient homes and energy retrofits while avoiding excessive costs through regulation.

This comes on the heels of a variety of CHBA recommendations being reflected in the federal government’s fall economic statement, which included a series of measures for business that have implications for the housing and residential construction sectors. Of note was a commitment of $1.6 billion over seven years for a New Energy Retrofit Program, in line with CHBA recommendations, aiming to target the surge in renovation activity amid the pandemic towards actions that reduce GHG emissions and boost the energy performance of Canada’s existing housing stock. Expansions to key federal emergency relief programs to boost and extend support through the ongoing wave of COVID-19 were also announced, and other items, like a return to normal immigration levels, retrofit loans, skilled trades support, increasing the Rental Construction Financing Initiative, and more were outlined.

It has been a busy first few months of 2021 for the association at all three levels as we work together to keep our industry strong in its ability to provide housing for Canadians. While 2021 will come with its challenges, it’s clear that the residential construction industry is a key player in supporting Canadians through this pandemic – by providing much-needed new and renovated homes, providing jobs, and remaining a key element in Canada’s economic recovery.

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CONCERT PROPERTIES BUILDING AWARD-WINNING HIGH-RISES, LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES, AND MORE

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or Brian McCauley, it all started with architecture. He grew up in British Columbia and was working as a registered architect in the late 1980s when Concert Properties was one of his clients. In 1994, the company brought him on as their first development manager. Now the President and CEO, McCauley still enjoys what he does.

“I love it,” he says when asked about his role with Concert Properties via web call from Vancouver. “Every day is a different day. That’s the one thing that is unique about our business; there are no two projects alike and no two days that are alike.”

Concert Properties is a private real estate development company. Today, they’re active in five lines of business across multiple provinces in Canada, including: building for-sale condominium buildings; building, owning, and managing for-rent residential apartments and seniors’ lifestyle

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communities; developing, acquiring, and managing commercial properties; and investing in, developing, and managing public infrastructure projects in Canada, through its separate company Concert Infrastructure Fund.

But the company started on a much smaller scale as a purpose-built residential builder in B.C. They moved into the condominium business in the early 1990s, then diversified into commercial real estate later that decade.

McCauley was taking on a variety of responsibilities by this point, and moved to Toronto in 2001 to set up Concert’s Toronto office.

“We were – and probably still are – the largest purpose-built rental builder in the city,” McCauley says. Concert’s Toronto interests also include over four million feet of industrial property and for-sale condominiums.

But at the core, the company is an urban, high-density high-rise builder.

RENTAL VS. FOR-SALE HIGH-RISES Those high-rises are either purpose-built rental or for-sale condominiums. But while the buildings may be similar, the financial aspects are not. “When you build a rental residential apartment building it takes quite a bit more capital and your capital has to stay in for a much longer time,” McCauley explains. The company’s ability to do as much purpose-built rental as they do is in part due to their focus on their founding values and long-term vision.

But otherwise, Concert’s approach to designing purpose-built rental homes takes the same level of consideration as condominiums. “We look at our target market and we assess what their needs are,” says McCauley.

“We stand behind the quality of our homes; in fact, the quality of our amenities and materials in our rental residential properties is at the same level as in our condominium buildings.”

One thing is clear: having such a diverse

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portfolio has certainly not affected Concert’s ability to design and build remarkable residential high-rises – comprising part of the 12,000 homes (both rental and for sale), that they’ve built across Canada over the past 30 plus years.

AWARD-WINNING WORK Concert’s “88 Scott” won the award for Mid- to High-Rise Condo or Apartment Project in last year’s CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence. It’s a truly mixed-use building with 523 condominium units, 60,000 square feet of office space, and just under 10,000 square feet of retail space. Located at the intersection of Toronto’s financial district and charming St. Lawrence neighbourhood, Concert ensured that the new building integrated seamlessly into the existing neighbourhood, a testament to McCauley’s love of architecture.

“The building is quite contextual,” he says.

“It was an older office building in the 1950s, then added onto with a separate addition….

EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC Residential construction remained an essential service in most of Canada, including in the areas where Concert operates. Like many in the industry, the company implemented additional health and safety measures on jobsites, but has been able to continue construction.

McCauley says one of the hurdles has been the halt on immigration into Canada, which has impacted the demand for urban condominium housing – especially in Vancouver and Toronto where new Canadians often land. But he remains optimistic. “Once we have vaccinations, demand will be back.”

The pandemic has stirred much conversation about what Canadians need in their homes and where they want to live. McCauley acknowledges that the ability to work from home has resulted in many people leaving urban housing in favour of single-family homes further away from the city core, but he

“Concert’s award-winning “88 Scott” project is truly mixed use, with 523 condominium units, 60,000 sq.ft. of office space, and 10,000 sq.ft. of retail” We preserved the 1950s façade because it was part of the neighbourhood’s heritage urban fabric.” Concert did that by removing all the stone cladding off the original office building and storing it until it was ready to be put back on.

It was a project nearly ten years in the making, and not without its changes along the way. McCauley speaks proudly of Concert’s ability to work with the city through the design process. “We have a really strong approach in working with city officials and the community,” he says. And when the ward counselor called up McCauley to say that the tower of 88 Scott would cast a modest shadow over the open space in a nearby church? “We moved the entire tower six metres to the south to eliminate the shadow.”

questions if those people will make the commute if they do have to return to work, flagging the impact those lengthy commutes will have not only on the individual’s time, but also on the environment.

“I fundamentally believe there is a continuous desire for people to live, work, and shop within close proximity to one another,” says McCauley. “It doesn’t have to be a 58-storey high-rise like 88 Scott, but in a denser urban environment where you can walk.” He brings up the concept of a 15-minute neighbourhood where everything you need is within a short walk, and he thinks we’ll see more and more opportunities for urban densification and high-rise development.

FA S T FA C T S Company Name: Concert Properties Head Office: Vancouver, B.C. Full-time Employees: Approximately 550 (half in Concert Real Estate Corporation and half in Tapestry Seniors Communities)

And as for design? He wonders if housing will now try to accommodate places to work at home, but notes that affordability is a major factor in delivering more space. “The affordability in major centres in Canada has been achieved primarily in the reduction in unit size over the last couple decades,” McCauley explains. And while people are now living, working, and studying from home, some of these smaller spaces are not adequately meeting the needs of residents. But being able to afford more space is not an option for many.

“It’s an interesting challenge and one that has yet to be fully fleshed out.”

FUTURE PLANS In addition to their other interests, Concert continues to plan and deliver master-planned communities across Canada (as it has since delivering their first master-plan community some twenty-five years ago), with 9,000 homes in their planning pipeline. They strategically acquired large pieces of underutilized land – like an old Canadian Tire property – near major transit hubs, and took them through rezoning processes that would allow for dense mixed-usage, including residential high-rises and retail.

The transit-oriented, mixed-use urban communities will go through several phases of development over the years.

How many years, exactly? From start to finish, development on this scale can take over a decade to deliver the first housing unit. And those timelines aren’t getting any shorter.

Coming CHBA Events MAY 3-7, 2021

MAY 7, 2021

2021 Home Building Week in Canada

Virtual Award Ceremony – CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence

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ONGOING MEMBER WEBINARS CHBA.ca/webinars

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Rezoning alone can easily take two to three years. “These projects are becoming more complicated and more complex, and take far longer to get approvals,” says McCauley.

“Which is shocking when we have such a huge housing supply shortage, particularly in Toronto and Vancouver.”

He acknowledges that the complexity of these projects often stems from the complexity of the site. Most high-rise projects are not being built on a greenfield; they’re second- or third-generation rebuilds on existing sites that have their own challenges, like brownfield sites with contamination or in a dense urban area. “Part of the challenge is to figure out what do you do with a site that’s been formerly occupied and used for something else.” With ten mixed-use, master-plan communities built, under construction, or in development across Canada, Concert well understands the challenges and benefits of this approach to building homes.

Concert’s goal is for one third of the homes in their mixed-use developments to be purpose-built rental. “We’re working very effectively with local authorities, provincial governments, and CMHC to do everything we can to deliver some affordability,” says McCauley. Examples include a two-tower phase underway in Etobicoke, Ont., that will have 70 affordable (below market) homes, and Fitting in: The entire 88 Scott project was shifted six feet to avoid putting a nearby church ground in shadow.

in metro Vancouver, a 308-unit rental building with a plan to deliver 100 affordable units in a unique partnership with the City of Coquitlam, BC Housing, a non-profit group, and CHMC. It’s clear that this aspect of the business is important to Concert, and to McCauley. “We’re doing everything we can do to try to contribute to developing some housing affordability across the projects that we’re working on.”

That focus on delivering a range of housing adds complexity, but McCauley doesn’t bring that up. It seems to just be part of what they do at Concert: building the homes and spaces that Canadians need.

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HOUSING DEMOGRAPHICS THE PANDEMIC HAS ACCELERATED WHAT IS ACTUALLY DRIVING HOUSING CHOICES: DEMOGRAPHICS

BY PETER NORMAN, VP & CHIEF ECONOMIST, ALTUS GROUP

The oldest Millennial celebrated his 39th birthday at home isolated from friends and extended family because it happened to fall in the midst of a global pandemic. The good news is that his home is likely a single-family dwelling with a bit of space, including a backyard, to stretch out in.

That’s because in Canada by the time someone reaches age 39 they are 68% likely to be living in their “move-up” single-family home.

By contrast, the oldest Gen-Z just celebrated her 24th birthday, also in lockdown, but in an apartment. She’s in an apartment because even though a majority of 24-year-olds remain living with their parents, of those who have moved out, a single-family home is the reality for only 35%. Over the next decade things will change for her; by 2031 odds are she will also own a single-family home. But that won’t yet be the reality for most of Gen-Z. The median Gen-Z is just finishing grade 12 this spring and the youngest is still in grade 4. By 2031 they will both most likely be renters or owners of apartments.

There has been a lot of speculation that the pandemic is shifting housing choices away from apartments and toward single-family homes. Some evidence supports this: apartment vacancy rates are rising across the country, while single-family home sales, and prices, are surging. But the pandemic has also hit right at a key juncture in demographic trends. Most Millennials are now in their prime move-up homebuying years, and it’s likely that the circumstances of the pandemic are just accelerating or releasing these trends that were happening anyway.

Millennials remain a big and important group, some 8 million persons strong in Canada. This group is 10% larger than the Gen-X group that came before, and as they continue to move into their single-family home years, that market will certainly heat up in the decade ahead.

Gen-Z will be driving demand for apartments – primarily rental apartments. While this group is about 15% smaller than the Millennial generation, it is growing about twice as fast over the next decade (due to immigration/other net international migration), according to recent projections by Statistics Canada.

In the past decade only about 52% of new homes in Canada were single family, down from 70% in the 2000s. In the next 10 years demographics are pushing up the need for single-family homes, and hopefully supply will follow suit.

Source: Atlus Group Economics Consulting based on Statistics Canada and CMHC data

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Gen-Z

Millennials

2031 Housing Profile

2031 Housing Profile

Apartment

Apartment

Single Family

Single Family

Annual Avg. Population Growth 2021-2031 (%) 2.5

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MILLENNIALS

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New Housing Supply Canada Single Family

Apartment

160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000

Bright Ideas

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ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF OUR FIRST-EVER READER CONTEST

In

40,000 20,000 0 2000s

2010s

2020s *

* Projections

Population (Millions) 2021 10.0

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our Winter 2020 issue we announced our first-ever contest, asking readers to submit their “simple solutions” to the various issues that crop up on a jobsite.

The answers we received ranged from the tried-and-true – “Measure twice, cut once” – to a reminder that a structure is only as solid as its foundation. But for our winner, we chose the entry from Sarah Langemann who shared not one but three tips on how she and her colleagues at Above Board Carpentry in Minden, Ont., keep track of their tools.

For her winning entry, Sarah will be adding a DeWalt 20-volt 7¼" Flexvolt Advantage circular saw to her collection.

•When we get a tool, we file its owner’s manual in a cabinet. When a tool breaks, we throw out the manual.

•It’s hard to know every tool you will need on a jobsite and we are continually running in to problems we didn’t anticipate. Solution: have a trailer for each jobsite that has the same set of tools in each.

•How do you keep track of which tool belongs in which bag? We leave a couple blades at the bottom of each bag so you’ll always know which tool belongs in it.

Thank you Sarah and all the readers who submitted their suggestions.

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Online Exclusive!

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Read Part 2 of our Top Tools for 2021 feature in our digital edition, available at BuildingExcellence.ca.

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MILLENNIALS

WINTER 2020

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INTERIOR finishing

Painter’s

Broadway

Palett HERE ARE THE TRENDIEST SHADES FOR 2021

Each year the various paint manufacturers select the colours that they think will be most on-trend for the coming year. Not surprisingly, the focus for 2021 is on hues that are supposed to evoke feelings of comfort, optimism, and warmth as we collectively try to get through this ongoing pandemic. Here’s a selection of the shades your contemporary clients will covet this season.

Voyage

Behr

Behr introduced a lineup of 21 “colours to elevate your comfort zone.”

These include: Broadway (PPU18-20): Described as “safe and resilient” Maple Glaze (PPU3-16): “hopeful and welcoming” Voyage (PPU13-07): “soothing and spiritual” Behr.ca

Beauti-Tone

Home Hardware selected Dancing in the Rain from the house brand, Beauti-Tone, as their colour of the year.

Dancing in the Rain (C20-5-0644-0): Described as evoking “tranquility and calm” HomeHardware.ca

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Maple Glaze

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DELTA®-MS protects your foundation and reputation, for years to come.

Quality homebuilding begins and ends with applying the best products and building practices right from the start. DELTA®-MS protects foundations from moisture, longer than liquid-applied waterproofing.

Its vacuum-formed dimple pattern and exclusive Air-Gap Technology work to keep foundations dry and protected even when cracks occur. It’s your first step in making a lasting impression, keeping your reputation and your homes going strong.

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INTERIOR finishing

Pantone

Dulux Paints (PPG)

Dulux Paints created the “Be Well” lineup, that it suggests hints of “creamy oatmeal, warm latte, earthy turquoise, and toasty ginger – organic tones that emit a sense of calm and tranquility.”

Big Cypress (DLX1062-5): “a shaded ginger with persimmon undertones” Misty Aqua (DLX1147-3): “a watercolour cerulean blue” Transcend (DLX1079-4): “a mid-tone sandy brown” Dulux.ca Big Cypress

Pantone, the arbiter of all things colour, made two selections for 2021.

Illuminating (13-0647): “strength and positivity” Ultimate Gray (17-5104): “warm and optimistic” Pantone.com

Misty Aqua

Transcent

Benjamin Moore

With a curated palate of 12 colour trends for the year, Benjamin Moore selected Agean Teal as its primary colour for 2021.

Agean Teal (2136-40): “a blend of blue-green and gray” BenjaminMoore.com

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Sico (PPG)

Sico looked to the natural world to find its selection, Blue-winged Warbler, a bird native to eastern North America.

Blue-winged Warbler (6160-52): “a jade aqua tone” Sico.ca

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ON THE NEW CHBA BUILDERS’ MANUAL The Canadian Home Builders’ Association Builders’ Manual is the most authoritative guide for building superior energy-efficient housing.

WHY THIS MANUAL IS RIGHT FOR YOU This manual is not an introductory book on home construction. This is a guide for people who want to go beyond the basics, to gain an in-depth understanding of the building science and the “house as a system” approach and apply that knowledge to build or renovate homes.

IDEAL FOR New home builders, Renovators, Engineers, Architects, Trade contractors, Manufacturers and suppliers, Government officials, Building product and hardware retailers, Educators and students in building-related courses, Consumers planning to build homes.

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M U LT I -STO R E Y c o n s t r u c t i o n

HOW MULTI-STOREY DEVELOPERS HAVE DEALT WITH COVID-19 AND ARE PLANNING FOR A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD

BY ALLAN BRITNELL

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t’s been a little over a year now since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered businesses around the world. But for the office staff at Minto Communities, it was more or less modified business as usual.

Agnieszka Wloch, Vice President, Development for Minto Communities, admits that her company was somewhat “lucky” in that they’d recently converted their office to a plugand-play model with everyone working on laptops. So, it was relatively easy for everyone to switch to a work-from-home model.

“We closed on Friday the thirteenth of March and really never came back,” says Wloch.

(The office is now open for occasional usage but only by following strict screening and distancing protocols.)

The company, which builds everything from detached homes and townhouses to seniors’ living communities and high-rises in Canada and the U.S., also manages 13,500 apartment units and more than two million sq.ft. of commercial properties, so COVID-19 introduced myriad complications across the entire business.

On top of dealing with COVID-19, low-, mid-, and high-rise developers face the same list of issues anyone in homebuilding does – a shortage of skilled labour, conflicts over municipal bylaws, supply chain management, and so on – only at massive scales, and massive levels of risk.

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Interior and exterior: Minto Communities’ 123 Portland project in Toronto was a finalist in the CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence in the Mid- to High-Rise Condominium or Apartment Projects (Planned) category in 2020.

SITE SAFETY Since large-scale construction projects were deemed essential services, priority number one was making jobsites safe for workers.

Access to sites was limited, hand washing and sanitation stations were sprinkled

throughout, signs were posted reminding everyone of best practices and to keep their distance from colleagues, and companies developed mask-wearing policies for their employs and subtrades.

“The trades have been very collaborative with us,” says Wloch. Jobsite entry is through a single security checkpoint where everyone’s temperature is taken, and all are required to sign in with a QR code that does double duty as a screening and contract tracing tool in one. Once onsite, “Masks are mandatory in all spaces at all times,” says Wloch.

Out west, the Yorkton Group International took similar measures. “We strictly follow the public health guidelines,” says Reg Liyanage, Yorkton’s Executive Vice-President, including temperature checks of anyone entering a site.

Like Minto, Yorkton, which has offices in Edmonton and Vancouver, is a diversified company with core businesses that include land development, homebuilding, commercial construction, hotel operations, and more.

And, like Minto, each line was impacted.

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TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS One of the reasons projects were able to continue to operate relatively smoothly was the rapid implementation or expansion of technological tools. “COVID has really accelerated what we were already doing, such as digital contract signing,” says Wloch.

Wherever possible, real-world interactions have shifted to the virtual world. Yorkton suspended all business travel and switched from in-person to Zoom meetings. “I’m thinking that’s going to be the new normal” even after the pandemic is over, says Liyanage, citing the improved efficiencies that these measures have forced on us. Similarly, sales offices and showrooms moved virtual and scale models became animated 3D renderings.

Still, not everything can be done effectively in the online world. “About 90 percent of finish selections are done online. But we understand that choosing finishes is harder to do virtually,” says Wloch. “We’re taking our cues from our customers.” So now, final finish selections are done in person if the client requests it, but under tight controls. Where in the past, the whole family – grandparents to kids – might tag along for the selections, now it’s limited to two adults following standard social distancing protocols.

Existing features gained new value. Minto Intelligence is a combination keypad and app that residents use to control their HVAC, book amenities, and monitor guest arrivals and package deliveries. Minto has been using HRVs “for decades now,” says Wloch, and Yorkton upgraded its existing air filtration systems at the start of the pandemic.

Both Minto and Yorkton have investigated emerging tech in response to COVID-19, but haven’t yet made the leap on as-yet unproven options. In 2019, Minto Apartments ran a pilot experiment with ionization filtration systems.

They found that it not only improved air quality, but it also reduced ventilation system energy consumption. They began rolling it out in new projects and retrofitting it into existing buildings.

Liyanage says that for Yorkton, “We’re always on the lookout for new technology.

We looked into infrared, but it hasn’t really been proven yet.”

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GOING UP: H O W T O M A K E E L E VAT O R S S A F E R F O R O C C U PA N T S Yes, an elevator car is a relatively small, confined space. But it’s a confined space with a couple of factors that mitigate the risk of spreading disease. For one, the trips are fairly short. Plus, between the ventilation systems and doors that are constantly opening, there’s a steady flow of fresh air. So, if users are wearing masks and able to keep a distance the risk of transmission is relatively low.

Still, with the close quarters and large groups of people queuing up for them in lobbies that weren’t designed for people needing a six-foot radius private bubble, elevators and their waiting areas are an area of concern.

Hand-sanitizer dispensers by elevators are now standard, as is frequent cleansing of high-frequency touchpoints. Here are some other solutions that have been implemented or are in development.

• Call buttons are the number one, literal touchpoint. One solution is to replace plastic and stainless-steel buttons with naturally germ-killing copper ones.

• The HoverTap Lift by NZ Technologies in Vancouver is a low voltage, wireless pad that users hold a finger over to select a floor. The system, originally developed for operating rooms, can be retrofitted to existing elevators.

• Some boutique buildings have installed voice-operated or facial recognition call systems that know which floor residents live on.

• Elevator manufacturers are developing systems that use UV lights, hydrogen peroxide, and/or ionization to sanitize the air inside elevator cars.

• Load-weighing mechanisms can be programmed to skip calls en route to the lobby if the car is already at capacity.

• The “destination dispatch” system used in large commercial buildings can be programmed to take passengers directly to their destination without stops on the way, reducing wait times and minimizing contact with others.

• Some building managers have purchased handheld UV sanitizers such as the Solarix UV-LED portable disinfector by Vancouver-based Acuva Technologies to sterilize touchpoints throughout the day.

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M U LT I -STO R E Y c o n s t r u c t i o n

DESIGN ELEMENTS

HELP – AND BUILDING SITES – WANTED

Condo have a few features already built-in that made the transition to lockdown more manageable. For one, each has a security desk that could be used for screening occupants and visitors. Building amenities are also already behind locked doors, so it’s relatively easy to limit or prohibit access to those. As Liyanage points out, if everyone is wearing a mask, is conscious of social distancing, and follows hygiene practices, “Buildings are relatively safe.”

The biggest concerns for most were the elevators and lobby congestion while people waited their turn to board a socially distanced car. But several research papers have suggested that, outside of a hospital environment, provided that occupants are wearing masks and keep to their space, elevators are a relatively low risk for transmission.

(See sidebar, “Going Up.”) Existing homeowners with terraces and balconies no doubt appreciated having those private outdoor spaces during our year of lockdown – and were coveted by neighbours without. But developers are reluctant to make pandemic-induced panic moves. “People value balconies for now, but they’re not ideal for energy efficiency,” says Wloch.

The secret to finding quality employees is really no secret. “Treat them well and keep them for the long-term,” says Liyanage, pointing out that a significant portion of Yorkton’s staff have been with them for a decade or more.

Wloch points to one issue that Minto is particularly focussed on: a lack of affordable housing in our largest cities which impacts many employees and subtrades. “You need affordable housing peppered throughout the community,” says Wloch. Otherwise, where do the employees who build all those high-rises live?

Whether building high-end or affordable, “Scarcity of good land,” is a real issue says Wloch, as is some concern about people fleeing dense cities for larger suburban and rural housing. But once businesses begin to return to normal – perhaps with employees working a mixed schedule of remote and in-office days – demand for city properties should rebound.

Liyanage points out a similar shortage of quality building sites in the BC Lower Mainland area. It took Yorkton four years to assemble the land parcels, rezone, and design its new project, Yorkton on 108th, in the

Not your father’s Bentley: This four-storey project,

by Yorkton Group International, is located in the heart of Edmonton’s University District.

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rapidly growing Vancouver suburb of Surrey.

The 197-unit project consists of two, six-storey buildings.

In Yorkton’s other primary market, Edmonton, the absorption rate is the primary concern. Still, Liyanage points to high cap rates – short for “capitalization rates,” a measure of the rate of return on commercial real estate – “We like that. We’re quite optimistic about both markets,” he says.

LOOKING FORWARD “We’re already looking to the future and planning for post-COVID,” says Liyanage.

One unintended benefit of the pandemic has been historically low interest rates.

“It’s enabled us to buy property on a reduced-cost basis. It’s a tremendous opportunity,” says Liyanage. Yorkton’s public company, Yorkton Equity Group (listed on the TSX-V, trading under YEG) which is focussed on buying revenue properties including apartment buildings, is betting heavily on the BC market, especially the Vancouver lower mainland as it continues to attract buyers from other parts of Canada driven by population demographics, the area’s mild climate, its diversified strong economy, and overseas investors seeking stability. While COVID-19 was hard on all of us, Wloch likes to take an optimist’s approach: “Out of every crisis there are great innovations. It’s a time for great innovators.”

It remains to be seen how this pandemic will ultimately reshape the Canadian condo developers, but there will always be a need for housing, and those that can roll with the changes and find innovative ways of moving forward will surely come out on top. In the penthouse suite, if you will.

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“We’re really proud of the Bentley project,” says Reg Liyanage, Yorkton Group International’s Executive Vice-President. The concrete and steel-framed structure, a nominee in the 2021 National Awards for Housing Excellence Best Mid- to High-Rise (Complete) category, is clad entirely in brick and stone. Upgraded features include triple-glazed windows and a smart home package. The four-storey building has 38 units located in the Edmonton’s prestigious Windsor Park neighbourhood.

WINDOW DRESSING How high-rise developers are modifying designs to make buildings safer for birds With all this focus on the health and safety of the people building and occupying high-rises, it’s nice to know that developers are also thinking about the wildlife that we share our environment with. According to the Fatal Light Awareness Project (FLAP), more than 25 million birds die in Canada every year after colliding with windows. The reasons for the collisions vary. During the day, birds mistake the reflection of trees on windows and fly into them. Or they see plants behind glass, but not the glass itself.

At night, particularly during migration, light shining out of windows confuses birds who use the moon and stars as navigation aids.

Since its founding in Toronto in 1993, FLAP has helped educate builders and building occupants on the dangers these structures pose to birds, provided guidance on ways to minimize collisions in existing towers, and championed bird-friendly design for new projects.

The non-profit also offers its BirdSafe Consulting Service to help builders design structures that are bird friendly. Options range from retroactively adding window film with marker dots that are largely invisible to the human eye but alert birds to an obstacle, to design modifications such as not having windows on both sides of a façade with an open-concept floorplan in between and installing auto-shutoff lighting or automated blinds to reduce nighttime collisions.

Visit BirdSafe.ca for more information.

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K I TC H E N S a n d BAT H RO O M S

OUR 4 th Annual COLLECTION OF INTERESTING AND INNOVATIVE NEW PRODUCTS FOR THE KITCHEN AND BATHROOM

BY BLAIR EVELEIGH

COVID-19 has changed a lot of things, including how we design and build homes.

And nowhere more so than the busiest rooms in any home – kitchens and bathrooms.

While antimicrobial and hands-free fixtures were once boutique pieces for germophobes, they’re sure to become more commonplace. Here we’ve compiled a selection of interesting and innovative new products for kitchens and bathrooms, with a heavy emphasis on the post-COVID items your clients will be clamoring for.

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ANTIMICROBIAL AND/OR SELF-SANITIZING PRODUCTS Lenova Aqualogic Ozone Generating Kitchen Faucet

Ozone water is not a trendy specialty drink, but it is special: it can kill 99.9 percent of viruses, bacteria, mould, and protozoans (such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium), plus food pathogens like salmonella. These naturally disinfecting faucets come in two pull-down styles (7 1/4" and 161/2").

LenovaSinks.com

Sherwin-Williams Paint Shield

Microbes, ew. We’re all now more aware of the teensy stuff we’re better off avoiding. This EPA-registered interior latex paint kills 99.9 percent of them (there’s that number again), even E. coli, using the same compounds as disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers. Available in 550 colours, this eggshell finish works well in kitchens, bathrooms, and other high-traffic areas.

Sherwin-Williams.com

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Kohler Betello self-cleaning toilet

Kohler’s battery-operated ContinuousClean technology (available in traditional or contemporary toilet designs) cleans the bowl when you flush. The system uses puck-style tablets (your choice of brand) and has settings for dispensing more or less cleaner. A commode that can go, Kohler claims, five times longer between cleanings? That’s Continuous good news.

Kohler.ca

GE Dishwashers with Sanitize Cycle

Sure, your dishes look clean when they come out, but you’ll really be certain with this dishwasher feature.

GE claims its sanitize cycle – a final high-temperature rinse of at least 68°C (155°F) – reduces bacteria by 99.999 percent. Many of the company’s dishwashers now have this cycle, as do more than half of its washers and dryers.

GEAppliances.ca

Weiser Troy Passage Knob Lockset

Some surfaces you can’t avoid touching, like doorknobs and handles. Weiser offers a range of products that are treated with a coating that helps prevent bacterial growth. An antimicrobial disinfectant called Microban disrupts the proliferation of bacteria, mould, and mildew and will keep the nasties from reproducing.

WeiserLock.com

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HANDS-FREE PRODUCTS Grohe FootControl faucets

Your dirty hands need never touch a faucet. Just gently tap the sensor under the base of the cabinet with your foot to start the water flowing and tap again to stop the flow. This feature is available with the LadyLux and K7 styles, but can be added to other Grohe taps with a retrofit kit.

Grohe.ca

Dekton by Cosentino

An ultracompact non-porous surface material, Dekton comes with some sturdy qualities: it’s virtually stain-, heat-, and scratch-proof; comes in huge slab sizes (think no seams) and a range of thicknesses; and can stand up to freezing and thawing, making it bone-chilling-Canadianwinter-temperatures-proof, too – for outdoor kitchen applications. One trade-off: it can be pricier than quartz or granite.

Dekton.com

Pfister React One-Handle touchless kitchen faucets

Say goodbye to a messy faucet handle with a wave of your hand using Pfister’s React system (on the Stellen and Raya product lines). The sensor is battery-operated, and there’s no worry about forgetting to turn the water off with a second wave: the flow automatically stops after three minutes.

PfisterFaucets.com

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BIDETS Bio Bidet Prodigy smart toilet

This tankless toilet/bidet combo has a contemporary look. You can customize the spray to your needs: adjust the pressure; stream as oscillating or pulsating (or combined as rhythm); it even has an enema function. Bonus features: the nozzle, seat, and lid have an antibacterial coating, and the bowl has a nonstick coating.

BioBidet.com

Icera iWASH S-11 Electronic Bidet Seat

Can’t afford a full toilet upgrade? Switch out your seat for this luxury bidet replacement, which fits most standard elongated toilets.

Its tankless heating system supplies unlimited warm water; the adjustable nozzle has rear, front, and oscillating sprays; and the backlit wall-mounted remote has saved settings for two users.

IceraBath.com

American Standard SpaLet Advanced Clean 100 Bidet Seat with Dryer

Multiple warm-water sprays, warm-air drying, a heated seat: what more could you want from a bidet? How about hands-free operation and saving up to 250 of those toilet rolls you’ve been stockpiling since last spring? This bidet seat even comes with a soft night light for those late-night skips to the loo.

AmericanStandard.ca

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K I TC H E N S a n d BAT H RO O M S

KITCHENS Ruvati RVH8222 33" Two-Tiered Ledge Kitchen Sink Workstation

Turn a sink into workable space with this innovative design. Multiple configurations are possible with this long sink, with two tracks and accessories such as a cutting board (which becomes a serving tray when flipped), a stainless-steel colander, a mixing bowl (with lid and grater), and a foldable drying rack.

Ruvati.com

Pitt burners

Cooking with gas gets a stylish makeover with these burners, hand-made in the Netherlands, which come in aluminum, brass, or black with black cast iron grates and can be installed directly into any countertop material, with more space between them than a traditional setup. Also available for outdoor kitchen installations.

PittCooking.com

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Rev-A-Shelf Sliding Wine Racks

Looking for a more efficient way to store your, um, stress-reducing beverages? Rev-A-Shelf has pull-out wine racks that do the trick.

They come in three sizes (18" holds four bottles, 24" holds six, and 30" holds seven) and the rack is angled to keep the corks wet and prevent spoilage.

Rev-A-Shelf.com

New Ravenna Natural Selections tiles

This eye-catching new line of glass and stone tiles from New Ravenna is based on the work of textile designer Kevin O’Brien and includes nature-inspired geometrical patterns and motifs based on classic fabrics, botanical patterns, and historic mosaics. They can be installed on walls or floors, indoors or outdoors.

NewRavenna.com

BlueStar Custom Hoods

A custom-designed ventilation hood can be the centrepiece of a kitchen.

With more than 1,000 vibrant colours and 10 metal finishes on offer, BlueStar can make a statement fixture starting with a simple sketch. You can even steampunk your hood with metal strapping and rivets.

BlueStarCooking.com

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K I TC H E N S a n d BAT H RO O M S

BATHROOMS Sterlingham towel warmers

Nothing says comfort like a heated towel. A made-in-England brass rail warmer adds to the charm. Sterlingham offers myriad styles (each with an old-world name), configurations (height, width, number of rails), and finishes (from unlacquered brass to polished gold). Where’s my towel? Right there, warming up on the Wolverley.

Sterlingham.co.uk

Easy Drain Modulo Stone Flex shower drains Cut visual clutter and improve accessibility with these near-invisible linear, frame-free drains that give your shower a seamless look. Made for natural stone, tile, and marble enclosures, these drains come in a range of lengths (from 19¾" to 82¾"), with an adjustment allowance of up to 4" during installation. All that, plus a 10-year warranty.

EasyDrain.com

Gessi Hi-Fi Thermostatic Mixers

Add some frivolity to your bathroom with sleek fixtures based on stereo systems of decades past. Turn a dial to tune in your favourite slow jam, er, water temperature.

Mixers come in a variety of finishes: black metal PVD, say, for the headbanger, or antique brass for the Herb Alpert fan.

Gessi.com

Moen Aromatherapy Handshowers

Moen takes a relaxing shower up a notch by adding mood-enhancing aromatherapy. These essential oil capsules look like coffee pods and create fragrances for different moods, with names like Zen Time, Tropical Day, and Energetic Morning. Plus, they don’t leave scent or oil residue on skin, hair, or shower walls. Ahh. Moen.ca

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October 27-28, 2021 Toronto Congress Centre FEATURING

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MODULAR construction

Manitoba’s Grandeur Housing

GETTING TO NET ZERO WITH MODULAR

BY BERNARD DESJARDINS, CHBA

F

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Photos courtesy of Grandeur Housing

or more than 40 years, Grandeur Housing has been producing precision-built, modular homes in its factory in Winkler, Manitoba, and installing them throughout Western Canada and in remote communities in northwestern Ontario, sometimes at the end of an ice road. It was at a CHBA Modular Construction Council meeting in Ottawa that the company’s quality control manager, Cory Warms, first learned of a Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) case study project on energy modeling and cost optimization for net-zero modular homes. The project was being conducted with the CHBA Modular Construction Council by Clarice Kramer and the Local Energy Efficiency Partnerships team. “This flipped a switch in my head,” says Warms.

“Our homes often exceed the current energy-efficiency requirements in codes, and

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we had already been considering such a build.

The presentation gave us the push we needed to proceed with it.”

Grandeur began with a case study home for Winkler, Manitoba. “The way we build modular – indoors and using a very controlled process – is a huge advantage in meeting the exacting requirements of a net-zero home,” Warms says. “It was straightforward to put on thicker continuous insulation, add more insulation in the attic, and increase the stud size to 2x8 in., but the build was not without its challenges. Warms explains that “the modules took longer to complete on the assembly line, and ductwork in the floors and

ceiling took much longer to install. And because of the particular wall assembly used – a split-insulated wall – there was a significant amount of time spent making sure the windows and doors were flashed properly.”

Besides having a superior thermal envelope and airtightness level – the blower-door test result was 0.52 ACH – advanced heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning technology helps net-zero homes attain the expected

energy-efficiency performance. “A cold-climate air source heat pump heats and cools the home. The water heater also uses air-to-air technology. A heat recovery ventilation system ensures adequate ventilation,” says Warms.

Electricity is generated by the home using photovoltaic solar panels, and Warms reports that they perform well even in the far north.

The project included two more case study homes for Grandeur, and covered three climate zones – 7a in Winkler, 7b in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and zone 8 in Arviat, Nunavut – and all achieved net-zero performance.

The Winkler home is being used for testing and monitoring heat pump performance, energy use, air flow patterns, and duct zoning.

Electricity consumption versus production will be measured for a full year. While the additional cost to achieve net-zero performance is significant, so is the level of comfort for the homeowner, says Warms. The home holds heat very well, even in Manitoba’s extreme cold, and the electrical bill should be minimal.

In all, the Council’s project with NRCan included 10 modular case studies conducted across Canada with four Council members – Grandeur Housing, Guildcrest Homes, Supreme Homes, and Triple M Housing. For more information on these projects, contact Clarice Kramer at clarice.kramer@canada.ca.

N E T Z E R O H VA C BEST PRACTICES • Consult an HVAC designer early in design process to allow coordination, efficiency, and innovation • High-performance envelope, equipment and appliances for low-energy loads • Right-size HVAC equipment – use F280-12 results (room by room, loss and gain) • Zoned duct design for better comfort, user control Source: Natural Resources Canada

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Meysam Pourkaram Samuel Lapidus Founder and Project Manager Owner and President Enzo Design Build Keystone Ridge Developments Vancouver, BC Toronto, ON

R E N OVATO R S’ c o r n e r

HIGH-RISE RENOVATIONS GET IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THIS GROWING NICHE

BY NATASHA ROMBOUGH, CHBA’S DIRECTOR, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

R

enovating high-rises is a niche specialty that’s in demand in urban areas.

Canadians are at home more than ever and looking to maximize every square foot of their living space – especially if that space is small. We asked two RenoMarkTM renovators to weigh in on the realities of renovating high-rise buildings. Though they renovate in different markets (Samuel Lapidus is in Toronto and Meysam Pourkaram is in Vancouver), both professionals’ insights were very similar.

up with odd requirements. “It’s important to communicate well with them. Also, if there is a conflict between strata rules and city requirements, it’s best if the construction details are explained to them thoroughly.”

Lapidus also stresses the importance of realizing that you’re working within a high-density community with unique obligations: “You need to be a friendly neighbour. And you have to be able to respond 24/7 to a property manager.”

RENOVATION AWARDS Whole Home – under $150,000 Enzo Design Build Inc., West Vancouver, BC: “Ocean Drop”

AFTER

B E FO R E

TIGHT SPACES, RESTRICTED ACCESS PERMISSION GOES BEYOND PERMITS For high-rise renovations, you need condo/ strata board approval before starting any renovation. “We’re not just working with the client, but with the neighbours and the strata managers,” says Pourkaram, who adds that building managers are not necessarily experienced in construction and may come

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Whether it’s getting oversized materials into elevators or finding parking for trades on downtown streets, space is a huge consideration when renovating high-rises. “Make sure your trades have small vehicles that fit in parking garages,” advises Lapidus – a small tip that has a huge impact. Time restrictions on working hours (normally limited to weekdays

between 9-5, or even 10-4) require careful planning and can extend construction timelines beyond a similar renovation for a single-family home. “Talk to clients and the strata [condo board] at the beginning,” advises Pourkaram. “Discuss trades’ parking, visitor parking, how much notice is needed for booking the elevator, and the size of elevator.”

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MARKETING STRATEGIES Many clients value their privacy, so getting permission to use images or testimonials from their home for marketing is a challenge.

Both Lapidus and Pourkaram say that much of their business comes from word-of-mouth referrals. “We started with a bit of marketing on Google AdWords but we were lucky to get a lot of projects through words of mouth from our clients and now some also come through the designers and trades that we work with,” says Pourkaram. A professional-looking website that adds legitimacy to your business and makes you easily found on internet searches is also crucial, but don’t expect immediate results: “It took a solid year to make sure my company was showing up on the first page of Google,” says Lapidus, whose company redid their website for search engine optimization (SEO) by including important metadata and popular search terms that their ideal clients would use.

B E FO R E renovate. It’s like home healthcare,” says Lapidus, who has noticed that as units get smaller, homeowners want to renovate sooner to maximize storage and configure floor plans to suit their needs. Pourkaram is seeing an increase in demand since the pandemic. “In Vancouver the market is hot and things are expensive so people want to renovate rather than sell. The buildings are in good shape but the units are dated inside,” he explains.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT Both RenoMark renovators see a lot of work available in the future. “The more buildings that go up, the more suites there are to

ADVICE FOR RENOVATORS LOOKING TO GET INTO THE HIGH-RISE MARKET High-rises adhere to a different building

AFTER

RENOVATION AWARDS Kitchen – under $70,000 Keystone Ridge Developments Ltd., Toronto, ON: “Condo Kitchen in The Sky”

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code, and Lapidus stresses that you must be familiar with it. “It means using different materials and installation techniques, protecting units from each other, etc.” For his part, Pourkaram urges anyone to gain more experience before starting to work on strata.

“There is a lot of liability on your shoulders,” he explains. “Study the building, talk to real estate agents – they have a lot of information.

Do your due diligence (read bylaws) before presenting any numbers. Set expectations for clients.” And both renovators agree that being nice and starting out on the right foot goes a long way when the unexpected happens.

I N S I D E R i n fo

BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES SPURRED ON BY THE PANDEMIC, MILLIONS OF CANADIANS RE-ASSESS THEIR HOUSING NEEDS

BY MIKE LINEHAN, NATIONAL HEAD, MORTGAGE SPECIALIST, RBC

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020 was a year unlike any other for Canada’s housing market. After grinding to a halt in the spring, housing activity came roaring back in the summer and fall, resulting in a record year overall. Activity was at or near an all-time high in eight provinces. While there are a number of factors that will influence housing activity in the year ahead, the reality is that the pandemic has changed the way Canadians think about their homes and homeownership, creating an opportunity for builders to re-align themselves with the needs and priorities of homeowners across the country.

Over the past year, nationwide efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 have kept millions of Canadians working and learning from home. While the change hasn’t been easy for everyone, many have come to embrace a more home-centered lifestyle.

Less time spent commuting, flexible work

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schedules, opportunities to spend more time with family and local communities are all seen as positive outcomes. At this point, it’s safe to say that working from home is here to stay – at least in some form.

Even as vaccine rollouts enable a partial return to normal, many Canadians will not want to fully abandon their home office.

For most, a hybrid model is likely to be the preferred work arrangement in the future, as many are missing the personal connections and sense of team that comes from being together in a space. Young people especially are eager to get back to the office – many of whom may have greater reservations about moving far away from their workplace than older workers.

But as Canadians settle into their hybrid work routines, they will also come to fully understand the limits and drawbacks of combining their home and work spaces. As a

result, the design of our homes will need to evolve. As working from home continues, smart design and flexibility will become important selling features. Privacy – both for work purposes and for leisure – is also likely to move up the priority list for homebuyers.

Open-concept living, for instance, may be seen as a negative unless it includes options for easily (and temporarily) sub-dividing the space as needed in order to accommodate everything from virtual learning to opposing work schedules to workout routines.

BUILDINGEXCELLENCE.CA

High-speed internet and trouble-free connectivity in the house are expected to be table stakes as well.

But not all needs can be met with updated design and increased bandwidth, which is why many Canadians, especially those living in smaller spaces, are looking beyond the big city limits in order to address their housing needs.

A recent RBC poll found that nearly two-in-five respondents who said they are looking to buy a home in the next two years stated they are currently looking to upsize (38%). When asked, Canadians said they were most interested in purchasing property in the suburbs or a commuter city (38%), followed by rural areas (26%). Only 14% of respondents reported they would look to purchase a home in a major metropolitan area.

Homeowners and apartment dwellers who have attempted to convert their existing spaces into home offices, gyms, and classrooms, are shifting their focus toward larger, more affordable properties in suburban and rural communities. And with expectations of greater work flexibility versus pre-pandemic norms, homebuyers are able to justify a

longer or more inconvenient commute if it is happening less frequently.

Going forward, we can expect it will take some time for employers and employees to find the right balance between working remotely and working on premises.

While it’s unlikely to be one or the other, getting the mix right may prove to be challenging. Those who choose to move far away from their workplace may find that commuting concerns, currently very low, begin to play a more prominent role in their work-life balance.

Whether the changes in attitudes and priorities of homeowners are permanent or transitory is an open question, however there is no doubt that the Canadian homebuilding industry will see an opportunity to innovate and serve the needs of Canadians. Canadians take great pride in the achievement of homeownership. A home is our special place to find solace and comfort. The home of tomorrow will need to provide for personal regeneration, while at the same time offering purpose-built space designed to support a positive and productive work environment.

Home work: Working from home – at least part-time – is likely here to stay.

THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT IN CANADA

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We host a lineup of expert speakers to discuss Real Estate Technology.

80+ Speakers from around the globe fully cover all topics active in the industry.

The combination of unique perspectives and experiences will promise to create thought-provoking discussions about what’s happening now and what’s going to happen next.

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We will be exploring technologies that evoke wonder and that will drive the future of property design, building performance and operations, and so much more.

#1

ENERGY STORAGE The Panasonic EverVolt features a modular design and is available in AC- and DC-coupled versions.

The Panasonic-engineered storage system is compatible with any solar system or inverter and can be scaled down to 5.7 kWh of energy storage or expanded to 34.2 kWh. EverVolt offers a simple, one-person installation and is field serviceable.

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The Aquor V1+ Hydrant is a beautiful, durable, low-profile water outlet for any home. Its unique marine-grade stainless steel valve allows owners to access water instantly, any time they need it. Just plug in the hose connector and the water turns on automatically.

Disconnect, and the outlet automatically seals, drains, and winterizes. How cool is that? Distributed exclusively in Canada by Bronte Collection.

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MODERN COLLECTION Signature Modern brings exceptional design, performance, and customer experience together, creating a product line that meets the exacting principles and standards of true modern architecture.

The high-density fibreglass material and proprietary frame design provide unparalleled thermal performance and durability. Low-gloss aluminum interiors – along with spacer bars and sealant – minimize visual distractions on the frame and enhance the flow of natural light.

Internal covers completely disguise fasteners and concealed rubber gaskets to help products maintain clean, crisp edges.

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OWENS CORNING FOAMULAR NGX INSULATION Manufactured with patented Hydrovac technology, FOAMULAR NGX Insulation is highly resistant to moisture and retains its high R-value, even after prolonged exposure to moisture and freeze/thaw cycling.

FOAMULAR NGX is available in many compressive strengths, up to 100 psi, and is well suited to applications across the enclosure, from load-bearing vegetative roofs and foundational supports to wall assemblies. FOAMULAR NGX is now available for sale across Canada.

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t h e G I V I N G BAC K p a g e

SEASON’S GIVINGS C

HBA members have been building, developing, and renovating Canadian homes for generations. We are sharing the extraordinary contributions CHBA members make in their communities every day through our ongoing #CdnBuilt for Generations campaign.

Here are a few recent stories. To read more stories follow our hashtag or visit blog.chba.ca/category/giving-back.

Avonlea Homes Embarks on Holiday Shopping Spree for Kids

HAVAN Zips Up its 25th Annual Coats for Kids Campaign with More Than $25,000 Raised

Members of the Homebuilders Association of Vancouver (HAVAN) took part in their 25th Annual Coats for Kids campaign in support of the Lower Mainland and Surrey Christmas Bureaus, two organizations that help provide warmer winters and brighter holiday seasons for families in need. While COVID-19 restrictions posed some challenges with limited access to drop-off locations, members from across the region collectively surpassed the $25,000 goal with a total of $25,150 raised and hundreds of coats and warm winter items collected for families in need in the Lower Mainland.

After a challenging year, BILD Lethbridge member Avonlea Homes put smiles on the faces of youth in their community through Lethbridge Family Services’ Angel Tree Christmas Campaign.

Together with their trade partners, Avonlea Homes raised more than $5,000 to purchase 180 gifts for children of all ages in their community. This was their second year participating in the program, and after feeling the effects of COVID-19 locally, Avonlea Homes decided to ramp up their efforts to give back in a big way. For over 28 years, the Angel Tree Christmas Campaign has distributed toys to children and youth in the Lethbridge area whose families who need some support.

CHBA-Central Okanagan Members Build Gingerbread Homes in Support of Habitat for Humanity Over the holiday season, members of CHBA-Central Okanagan participated in Habitat for Humanity Okanagan’s “There’s No Place Like Home” virtual Gingerbread House Photo Contest. Participants were encouraged to submit photos of their best gingerbread house to be voted on by the community. To show their support for housing affordability in their area, CHBA-Central Okanagan was the title sponsor of the initiative. “This year has been challenging and we wanted to give the community a much-needed feel-good activity over the holidays that supports a cause that is incredibly important in our region – access to housing that is affordable,” says Daniel Winer, Executive Office of CHBA-Central Okanagan. With generous member and community donations, the contest raised more than $15,000 for Habitat for Humanity Okanagan.

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