Project Specs
| Location: | Hamilton, Ontario |
| Climate Zone: | Cool-Temperate |
| Building Type: | Mixed-Use |
| Project Phase: | Completed |
| Certification Type: | Passive House Classic |
| Year of Construction: | 2020 |
| Gross Floor Area (m2): | 5798 |
| Treated Floor Area (m2): | 4414 |
| PHPP Verification: | Download |
Project Description
It was a shared vision of what makes a ‘home’ that brought James North Baptist Church together with local non-profit housing provider, Indwell, to redevelop an underutilized urban site in Hamilton, Ontario. This mixed-use redevelopment includes space for the growing congregation with 3 storeys of affordable housing above. The contemporary church focuses on neighbourly hospitality and sports ministries, and the building provides 45 affordable apartments for households facing displacement in this quickly gentrifying area.
The building is one of Canada’s largest mixed-use Passive House projects, and it achieved certification in October 2022. The entire project team worked along the lines of Integrated Project Delivery, with all members working collaboratively from the initial concept phase, through design development and construction.
The three-storey apartment building above the church consists of 45 one and two-bedroom apartments, tenant common areas, staff offices, bike storage and other amenity spaces. Nine of the apartments are fully barrier-free (half to the Hamilton Barrier-free Design Guidelines). The growing church required large spaces for their weekly worship gatherings, sports ministries, and youth programming. As a result, church spaces include an adult-sized gymnasium/auditorium to seat 500 people, a large glazed atrium and foyer spaces, a chapel, gathering hall hospitality spaces with a community kitchen, staff offices, and large classrooms and gathering spaces for youth programs (from infants through high school).
