Opportunity

With access to Rapid Housing Initiative funding from Waterloo Region and CMHC, the YW of Kitchener-Waterloo had an incredible opportunity to continue their mission to support homeless women in the community through the construction of a new housing development designed for safety, accessibility, and inclusivity.

Response

The team was tasked with delivering 41 compact yet accessible 1-bedroom transitional housing units on a challenging property within 1-year of contract award. The design response achieved optimal utilization of the site through a narrow building form comprised of prefabricated cross-laminated timber structural elements in an arrangement that maximized material efficiency and minimized the installation time. The mass timber elements were exposed to impart a sense of warmth and well-being.