Putman Family YWCA Mixed-Use Affordable Housing

Project Description

The YWCA Ottawa Street is a 50-unit affordable housing & community centre that is leading by example, proving that low-income housing can be built on a modest budget to the highest energy standard. In doing this, the building can become a tool for social empowerment of its occupants.

Through dedication to the Passive House Standard, the YWCA exemplifies social and fiscal responsibility, using the intrinsic resilience and low energy consumption of this development to protect the capital investment. Sub-metering will also allow the YWCA to track energy usage providing useful data for future learning. A fully integrated design team approach has produced a modular factory-built precast wall system, carefully detailed in design to create an airtight envelope from the first install.

Given the project scale, manufacturers and suppliers were engaged early to address market deficits in the local supply of Passive House components, with the resulting collaboration and R&D solutions testament to the integrated and open approach taken. Recessed PH-certified windows, brise-soleil and deciduous landscape design are all tools used to address the more problematic east-west site orientation, maintaining occupant comfort throughout the year.