Heather Place B Affordable Housing

Heather Place B Affordable Housing is a six-storey wood frame, 87 unit multi-family building set to provide below-market rental housing. By developing a cost-effective design in line with BC Housing Design and Construction Standards, BC Housing GHGI targets, and CMHC Co-Investment Fund standards, we were able to effectively support Metro Vancouver Housing to deliver excellent affordable units and continue to build their reputation for providing inclusive communities in the face of our housing crisis.

Local Practice provided Pre-Design Feasibility services which included Funding Partnerships Design Requirements, municipal policy and by-law review, a schematic design, and overview of technical requirements. Following the Pre-Design scope Local Practice was contracted to provide full Architectural Services.

For the delivery of this project, our team engaged in an Integrated Design Process (IDP) to prioritize win-win solutions in service of efficient, streamlined execution and the provision of healthy, affordable, and inclusive housing for a diversity of households. Through the IDP, the team has been able to engage a variety of stakeholders simultaneously, working alongside multiple disciplines, multiple departments at the City of Vancouver, multiple departments at Metro Vancouver Housing, and multiple potential funding partners, each with their own unique standards and considerations that must be carefully addressed and harmonized. As a result, Local Practice has been able to develop a cohesive, cost-effective design in line with various funder requirements, all while supporting Metro Vancouver’s continued ability to deliver excellent affordable units, share leadership lessons with others and build up their reputation for providing inviting and inclusive communities.

The project’s focus on affordability has not come at a cost to building performance and tenant amenities. Through the use of sustainability metrics focused on true performance, future resilience and potential adaptability, the project team has adapted the original Development Permit design based on concrete construction and LEED Gold level building energy performance to an all electric, wood construction, low carbon building. Furthermore, our team completed a Whole Building Lifecycle Assessment (WBLCA) for this project, demonstrating an ~29% reduction in embodied carbon, compared to City of Vancouver embodied carbon benchmark. Additionally, the project is pursuing levels of inclusivity and accessibility above and beyond regulatory requirements to support aging-in-place, as well as providing engaging, comfortable, and delightful year-round common amenity spaces. The Heather Place B project exemplifies equitable and inspiring housing, fostering both individual occupant well being and strong, vibrant communities.

This project has been published on the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) British Columbia, showcasing its approach to embodied carbon reductions at no cost premium:

https://clfbritishcolumbia.com/heather-place-b-avoiding-embodied-carbon-and-cost-premiums-in-affordable-housing-1066/

Client: Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation
Location: Vancouver, BC
Completion: Fall 2025
Performance: BC Energy Step Code 4, GHGI 0.8 kgCO2/m, ~29% reduction in embodied carbon compared to City of Vancouver benchmark
Team: Local Practice Architecture + Design (Architecture), Fast+Epp (Structural), Rocky Point Engineering (Mechanical + Fire Protection), O’M Engineering (Electrical), RDH (Building Envelope), HY Engineering (Civil), Hapa Collaborative (Landscape)