Project Specs
| Location: | Hamilton, Ontario |
| Climate Zone: | Cool-Temperate |
| Building Type: | Multi-Unit Residential |
| Project Phase: | Under Construction |
| Certification Type: | Low Energy Building |
| Year of Construction: | 2023-24 |
| Gross Floor Area (m2): | 3986.6 |
Project Description
The redevelopment of the old City Motor Hotel site adjacent to the Queenston Traffic Circle is intended to facilitate densification of the East Hamilton community while also considering the evolving needs and requirements for new affordable and social housing.
The first phase will provide 40 new affordable dwelling units in a six-storey, Passive House certified, mixed-use building. The building’s Queenston Road façade, already set back from the street edge to accommodate future road widening for a planned Light Rail Transit line, is further set back to ensure a generous front sidewalk for pedestrians into the future. The ground floor will offer commercial retail, entry to the residential component, and shared amenity space. The upper floors will contain a mix of one- and three-bedroom suites located along double loaded corridor bars which are shifted to bring daylight to the ends of the corridors.
The highly efficient building will also employ a 34.2 kWdc solar PV system on the building’s roof, generating green energy to further offset the building’s minimal anticipated usage. Sunshading elements will be provided on residential levels, their warm woodgrain finish shifting across the facade. Recognizing the building will be viewed by the many vehicles and pedestrians who pass the site, the sun shades will animate the facade in a simple way – hiding or revealing the wood texture as the viewers approach and pass the building. In the rear of the building, a generous courtyard spans the area between the phase one building and the northern portion of site slated to contain phase two. Sheltered from the busy road, the shared courtyard will contain seating and a small play area for residents and their young children.
Thermal Envelope
| Exterior Wall: | Type 1 - Wood or Steel Stud Backup Wall: U-value: Varies from 0.115 to 0.148 W/m2K Assembly from inside-to-outside: - 16mm gypsum board - 140mm Rockwook Comfortbatt - 2x6 wood or steel studs @ 24"o.c. - 11mm OSB - Air and water control membrane - 203mm Rockwool Cavityrock - Cladding (Brick, FCP siding, or ACM) Type 2 - CMU or Concrete Back-Up U-value: Varies from 0.183 to 0.195 W/m2K - CMU or cast-in-place concrete - 203mm Rockwool Cavityrock - Cladding (Brick or FCP siding) |
| Basement Floor/Floor Slab: | U-value: 0.181 W/m2K Assembly from top-to-bottom: - Cast-in-place concrete - 75mm extruded polystyrene insulation - 10mil air and vapour control membrane - 75mm extruded polystyrene insulation |
| Roof: | U-value: 0.084 W/m2K Assembly from top-to-bottom: - Modified Bitumen membrane - Fiberboard - 51mm mineral fiber insulation - Tapered polyisocyanurate insulation (for drainage) - 200mm polyisocyanurate insulation - Air and water control membrane - Precast concrete deck |
| Window: | Vestibule Windows: Manufacturer: Schuco Model: FWS 50.SI & AD UP 90.SI Center-of-glass U-value: 0.519 W/m2K Center-of-glass g-value: 0.336 All Other Windows: Manufacturer: Aluron (Vetta) Model: Elite 92 Center-of-glass U-value: 0.476 W/m2K Center-of-glass g-value: 0.353 |
Mechanical System
| Ventilation: | Apartments: Ventilation air is supplied to 40 apartments on floors 2 through 6 by a single Swegon Gold RX 35 ERV. This unit includes a coil downstream of the enthalpy wheel which is connected to a Mitsubishi VRF system to temper (heat and cool) the air before it is supplied to the apartments. This ventilation system also uses the Swegon React dampers which allows occupants to increase the ventilation rate supplied to their apartments. CAR dampers are also used in the design. Common Areas: Ventilation air is supplied to multipurpose rooms, the commercial space, and garbage room by five (5) Zehnder Q-series ERVs (Q350 or Q600). Stairwells: Ventilation air is supplied to the stairwells using pairs of Luno e2 HRVs |
| Heating/Cooling: | The building is heated and cooled using a Mitsubishi VRF system. Aside from a few service and common areas, the design uses fully-ducted fan coils to deliver heated and cooled air to spaces. |
| Domestic Hot Water: | Domestic water is heated by four (4) SanCO2 heat pump water heaters connected to two large storage tanks. The system design includes a traditional natural gas fired water heater as a back-up for times of high demand. An optimized recirculation loop is used to distribute hot water throughout the building. |
