Six buildings will soon be renovated to make them safer, more efficient, and more resilient to extreme weather.
Six design teams were selected to create retrofit designs for six low to mid-rise social housing units in Kamloops and Coquitlam.
The Province, BC Housing and the City of Vancouver announced the next phase of the Reframed Lab initiative. It is a building retrofit program that was launched in June 2020.
The six design teams will exchange ideas on cutting carbon pollution (including technological solutions such as heat pumps, heat-recovery systems and low-carbon materials), driving down energy demand and improving climate-change resiliency, and will explore innovations in seismic upgrades and on-site solar generation.
The buildings’ tenants will not be displaced from their homes during renovations, as most of the work will be on the buildings’ exteriors. Work is scheduled to begin in fall 2022.
The 2021 request-for-proposals process will select the design teams. They will work with dozens of construction-sector partners to create solutions for their assigned buildings. Below is a list of design teams, buildings and locations.
- Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. Crossroads Inn Kamloops, operated and managed by ASK Wellness Society
- Evoke Buildings Engineering, Le Chateau, Coquitlam, operated MVHC
- Williams Engineering Canada: Crown Manor in New Westminster, operated and maintained by MVHC
- Morrison Hershfield Manor House in North Vancouver, operated under MVHC
- Entuitive: Tikva Housing Society, Dany Guincher, Vancouver
- Low Hammond Rowe Architecture: Medewiwin (Victoria), operated by Pacifica Housing
The Province is supporting the design and capital costs of this project through funding from the Capital Renewal Fund, a 10-year $1.1-billion investment committed to preserving and improving B.C.’s 51,000 units of social housing.
This initiative also received $460,000 from the Province’s CleanBC Building Innovation Fund (CBBIF). CBBIF Fund has given $9.65 million to developers, builders, researchers, and manufacturers to demonstrate and commercialize low-carbon and energy-efficient building technologies. Their objective is to increase the availability, affordability and acceptability of made-in-B.C. Building technologies that can be scaled up in order to meet provincial climate targets, prepare for future building regulations, and drive economic development.
The City of Vancouver will be providing technical and regulatory guidance to support the work, which aligns with the city’s climate and housing affordability goals. The cities of Victoria and Coquitlam, New Westminster as well as North Vancouver, North Vancouver, North Vancouver, and New Westminster will also provide regulatory support.
Quotes:
David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing –
“We are supporting these six projects using cutting-edge technology to provide a model for deep energy upgrades, starting with the retrofits of six social housing buildings in B.C. This work will improve air quality and energy efficiency, helping with tenant comfort and operator expenses.”
George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy –
“By working together with different agencies, organizations and orders of government, we’re supporting innovative new ways to improve housing options for everyone. Through CleanBC, we’re investing in better, more energy-efficient social housing that will reduce climate pollution, support new job opportunities in the clean-buildings sector and improve resiliency so we’re better prepared for a changing climate.”
Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation –
“By supporting made-in-B.C. innovation in our building sector, we’re increasing the capacity of the B.C. CleanBC has set goals for the building sector to achieve these goals while creating good, family-supporting jobs. Our goals are to increase availability and affordability of made in B.C. low-carbon building solutions that can be scaled up to help achieve provincial climate targets and drive economic development.”
Kennedy Stewart, mayor, City of Vancouver –
“Our partnership with Reframed Lab demonstrates that collaboration is key to successfully tackling climate change and making affordable housing more resilient to extreme weather events such as the heat dome that brought record-breaking temperatures to B.C. Last year. By retrofitting existing multi-unit residential buildings in Vancouver and around B.C., we’re prioritizing occupant safety, health and comfort, while protecting and improving our existing building stock, and advancing our climate goals by reducing emissions.”
Jill Atkey, CEO, BC Non-Profit Housing Association –
“The climate emergency is here and those who live in non-profit housing are most at risk from its effects. The non-profit sector is also one the largest energy consumers in B.C. The six projects announced today will help us develop a path forward to ensure people are protected and our footprint is reduced.”
Tom-Pierre Frappé-Sénéclauze, B.C. director, Pembina Institute –
“In the midst of a climate emergency, B.C. B.C. has the opportunity to lead the world in local know-how and products that will be needed for the massive renovations required in all cities. With careful design, deep retrofits not only reduce energy bills and carbon pollution, but they can bring health benefits, resilience to climate risks, increased seismic resistance and extended life for our crucial housing infrastructure.”
Quick facts:
- The Reframed Lab aims to explore the technical and economic feasibility of renovations that integrate energy efficiency, decarbonization, seismic safety and climate adaptation.
- Retrofit projects aim at reducing annual energy demand by more then 50% and carbon emissions to an average of 80%.
- Envelope upgrades will reduce thermal heat loss, drafts, moisture and mould buildup to reduce utility costs and improve indoor air quality.
- Fuel-switching strategies can be integrated with envelope improvements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase heating-system efficiency.
- As required, seismic resilience will be integrated and optimized with the envelope to reduce costs.
- Climate adaptation measures will improve the interior air quality and protect residents from events like floods, heat waves, and forest fires.
- The buildings range in size from 11 to 50 units, totalling 189 units, and provide housing for families, seniors and people living with physical disabilities, mental-health and substance-use challenges.
Learn more:
For more information about the Reframed Lab, please visit: https://reframedinitiative.org/lab/
Visit: to learn more about the steps taken by the Province to address the housing crisis and provide affordable homes for British Columbians. https://workingforyou.gov.bc.ca/
For more information about the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 visit: www.cleanbc.ca
Visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change/clean-buildings
