SABMag 80 sample

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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

L PS I

Chemical Compatibility

PS I

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

OR

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

4

4

N

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

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The future is

FIBERGLASS Super low U-values Tough frames Beautiful aesthetics Passive house applications SHOWN HERE Fort St. John Passive House Low Hammond Rowe Architect RENU Engineering Inc. WCPG Construction Ltd.

DUXTON Windows & Doors

204.339.6456

duxtonwindows.com SABMag - FALL 2023

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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.

1

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Among the Lowest Carbon Emissions in the Industry Fiberglass windows and doors don’t just look good they are checking all the boxes LEED V4

CAN/ULCS134**

AAMA625**

PASSIVE HOUSE INSTITUTE CERTIFIED**

Architect: Hobin Architecture; Owner/Developer: Ottawa Community Housing; Contractor: EllisDon.

N

G REE N B U I

AWARDS

ING LD

CANAD IA

With Inline’s Triple Glazed Fiberglass Windows delivered to Passive House Standard in the Mosaiq affordable housing complex will give superior performance, lower operating and maintenance cost, borne by tenants for many years.

Inline, helping to make your projects better.

2023

SPONSOR

CALL US TO DISCUSS YOUR NEXT PROJECT! lbidner@inlinefiberglass.com 1.866.566.5656, ext. 226 ** These options and features must be specified, and were not part of the windows supplied to the Mosaïq project.

SABMag - FALL 2023

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THE BEST WINDOWS AND DOORS in design, energy efficiency and durability

CHILLED BEAMS SWEGON CHILLED BEAMS INTEGRATE WITH MOST ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATIONS.

PARAGON

WindowsPassive House Institute certified Windows and Doors.

• Cold Climate • Energy efficient and future-proof • Visionary performance • Clean aesthetics • Certified NAFS/NFRC US / CA

www.enersign.com

PACIFIC

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Reach out to a Swegon expert today to learn how to create a complete solution by integrating Chilled Beams with our GOLD Air Handling Unit and React Damper.

SWEGONNORTHAMERICA.COM

Comfort, Well Beyond the Standards EVERY GREAT HERO

FOLLOWS A CODE ADHERO exceeds part 5 and 9 of Canada’s National Building Code. This highperformance, airtight, fullyadhered, WRB protects exterior sheathing + CLT panels.

HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING SUPPLY CA.475.SUPPLY 24

SABMag - FALL 2023

HIGH PERFORMANCE DOORS & WINDOWS

Made in Canada Passivhaus Certified

GET A QUOTE : nzpfenestration.com

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.

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Improve building envelope performance with Isokorb® Structural Thermal Breaks

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Prevent interior condensation and mould Streamline balcony design by eliminating the need for bulky wrapped insulation Improve overall thermal transmittance (U-value) at structural penetrations by up to 50% Reduce heat loss by up to 90% Meet code requirements for continuous insulation with maximum effectiveness

Isokorb® Structural Thermal Breaks insulate concrete and steel connections, preventing thermal bridging where balconies, canopies, slab edges, parapets and rooftop dunnage connections pass through the building envelope. Reach out to discuss your next project or to schedule a Lunch & Learn for your team.

Proud to offer Passive House and ICC approved products.

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www.schoeck.com info-na@schoeck.com | 855 572 4625

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YOUR LEED v4.1 QUICK-REFERENCE

Canadian Directory of Products and Services for Sustainable, HighPerformance Building

Visit our on-line Directory to see hundreds of listings of companies which supply products and services for sustainable, high-performance building.

Listings are organized by Product Category and by LEED v4.1 Category.

Our LEED v4.1 Directory is created with the help of our partner:

Our 2023 Partners SITE | LANDSCAPING | RAINWATER HARVESTING

Kalwall high performance translucent building systems

ACO Systems

Kohltech Windows & Entrance Systems

Filterra Bioretention Systems/Langley Concrete Group

LiteZone™ Insulating Glass

Molok North America Ltd.

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Roth North America

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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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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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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

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.

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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

C

AWARDS

G

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

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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.

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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!

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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:

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· 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

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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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