The Reframed Initiative has teamed up with BC Housing and Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation to commission deep retrofit designs for six multi-unit residential buildings.
Multi-disciplinary teams are participating in the six-month Reframed Lab to design deep retrofit solutions for low-rise residential buildings in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, Capital Regional District, and Southern Interior. With support from their peers and experts, teams are integrating carbon reduction, climate adaptation, energy conservation, seismic safety, and health and wellness through a comprehensive regenerative design process.
Meet the Reframed Lab buildings and design teams!
Pacifica Housing
Supportive housing for seniors
Year built: 1972 (addition in 2002)
Size: three-storey, 1390 m2
Units: 26
Residents: 26-50
Annual energy consumption: 1,341 GJ + 160 MWh (estimated)
Annual energy cost: $29,000 (estimated)
Annual GHGs: 47 tonnes (estimated)
Description:
- Wood-framed low-rise MURB; freestanding; typical cladding; large windows
- Some articulation; balconies and entry overhang
- Natural gas DHW and hydronic heating
- Electrical panel capacity: 125 A/suit
Low Hammond Rowe Architects
Christopher Rowe, Principal-in-charge
Jan Veselsky, Architect
ReNü Engineering
Stuart Fix, Energy and sustainability consultant
Mike Otto, Energy management specialist
Mark Napora, Certified Passive House consultant
Todd Carson, Electrical engineer
RJC Engineers
Leon Plett, Structural engineer
RDH Building Science
Byron Searle, Project manager
Christy Love, Building science specialist
Graham Finch, Building science specialist
Hanscomb Ltd.
Ken King, Surveyor
Tikva Housing Society
Affordable rental housing for people living independently with disabilities
Year built: 1990
Size: three-storey, 770 m2
Units: 11
Residents: 11-15
Annual energy consumption: 423 GJ + 68 MWh (estimated)
Annual energy cost: $11,000 (estimated)
Annual GHGs: 22 tonnes (estimated)
Description:
- Wood-framed low-rise MURB; freestanding; typical cladding
- Some building articulation; small windows; balconies; underground parking
- Natural gas DHW and hydronic heating
Entuitive
Michael Lembke, Principal-in-charge
Salah Imam, Project coordinator
Timothy Wong, Building envelope specialist
Lindsey Kindrat, Sustainable building consultant
Emily King, Lifecycle assessment specialist
Tristan Truyens, Energy modelling project manager
Kitty Leung, Structural engineer
Prem Chane, Structural engineer
Kenny Yip, Structural engineer
Colin Maxwell, Building envelope specialist
Martin Pykalo Architecture
Martin Pykalo, Architect
Alison Brown, Architecture project manager
AME Group
Mike Kasuya, Mechanical engineer
Advicas Group Consulting Inc.
Francis Yong, Quantity surveyor
“RJC is thrilled to be participating in the Reframed Initiative. Reducing embodied and operational greenhouse gases from our existing buildings in a holistic manner, learning from each other as industry leaders, and helping to change the way buildings are addressed were all key factors in our decision to join the program. We view Reframed and similar initiatives as ways to positively affect people through buildings, both individually and collectively.”
~Michael Blackman, RJC Engineers
Ask Wellness Society
Supportive housing for people living with mental health and substance use issues
Year built: 1994
Size: four-storey, 1340 m2
Units: 50
Residents: 50-75
Annual energy consumption: 1,600 GJ + 170 MWh
Annual energy cost: $32,700
Annual GHGs: 82 tonnes
Description:
- Concrete and steel, low-rise MURB; freestanding; few articulations
- Small windows; at lot line
- Natural gas DHW and hydronic heating; window air conditioners
- Hydraulic elevator
RJC Engineers
Michael Blackman, Principial-in-charge
Robert Haw, Structural engineer
Mohammad Fakoor, Senior building performance lead
Veronica Ochoa, Building energy performance and tenant engagement
Deanna Perrin, Structural engineer
Arman Chowdury, Structural engineer
Kali Olson, Design engineer
Cover Architectural Collaborative
Robert Stacey, Architect
AME Group
Moises de Alba, Project panager
Scott Stewart, Mechanical engineer
Projects with Grace Inc.
Grace Bergen, Construction project manager
O’M Engineering
Hira Boparai, Electrical engineer
LTA Consultants Inc.
Lyndon Thomas, Quantity surveyor
Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation
Supportive housing for families, seniors and people with disabilities
Year built: 1972
Size: four-storey, 3870 m2
Units: 50
Residents: 50-80
Annual energy consumption: 2,905 GJ + 204 MWh
Annual energy cost: $47,300
Annual GHGs: 146 tonnes
Description:
- Wood-framed low-rise MURB; freestanding; large windows
- Balconies; Underground garage
- Natural gas DHW and hydronic heating
- Sub-metered electrical
Morrison Hershfield
Alex Chang, Project manager
Carolina Maloney, Building science consultant
Ali Mohammedzadeh, Energy specialist
Kalum Galle, Sustainability specialist
Mark Lucuik, Embodied carbon specialist
Don McCallum, Climate risk analyst
Khader Ghazal, Health and wellbeing specialist
Ruth McClung, Building performance analysis lead
Matthew Yim, Mechanical lead
Kevin Pearson, Electrical lead
Felipe Merino, Building science lead
Fast + Epp
Tobias Fast, Structural engineer
Steve Jeon, Structural engineer
Hanscomb Ltd.
Ken King, Surveyor
RDH Building Science
Alex Chang,
Len Sakuragi,
Yan Marineau-Brachmann,
Sarah Bozoian,
Ellen Klein,
Jesse Listoen,
Rashad Brugmann,
Christy Love,
FRESco
Paul Ristow,
Frank Lee,
SES Consulting
Metro Vancouver Housing Corp
Supportive housing for families, seniors and people with disabilities
Year built: 1980
Size: three-storey, 1770 m2
Units: 24
Residents: 24-48
Annual energy consumption: 2,379 GJ + 149 MWh
Annual energy cost: $36,700
Annual GHGs: 119 tonnes
Description:
- Wood-framed low-rise MURB; freestanding; large windows
- Balconies; underground parking
- Contiguous concrete slab to extended parking rooftop that extends
- Natural gas DHW and hydronic heating
- 600 Amp; 3 phase power
Evoke Buildings
Patrick Roppel, Team lead
Alex Blue, Energy specialist
Nicholas Proulx-Jones, Building science engineer
Derek Budde, Building envelope engineer
Monstera Projects
Rebecca Sobara, Project manager
Impact Engineering
Ben Mills, Mechanical specialist
Ruffy Ruan, Passive House specialist
Bush, Bohlman & Partners LLP
Dr. Tim White, Structural specialist
Station One Architects
Justin Dyck, Architectural specialist
Chelsea Mueller, Architect
O’M Engineering
Mo Khan, Electrical engineer
Marko Kovac, Electrical engineer
BELi (Building Enclosure Labs Inc.)
Randy Van Straaten, Building science specialist
Hanscomb Inc.
Ken King, Quantity surveyor
“Our team decided to participate in the Reframed Initiative as it presents the unique opportunity for consultants to collaboratively tackle the pressing problem of decarbonizing existing buildings. This approach promotes a collective problem solving and exploratory pursuit, which is not common to traditional projects”
~ Laurence Kao, Williams Engineering
Metro Vancouver Housing Corp
Supportive housing for families, seniors and people with disabilities
Year built: 1964
Size: three-storey, 1770 m2
Units: 28
Residents: 28-60
Annual energy consumption: 1.400 GJ + 172 MWh
Annual energy cost: $31,000
Annual GHGs: 71 tonnes
Description:
- Wood-framed low-rise MURB
- Balconies; underground parking; Contiguous concrete slab to extended parking rooftop that extends
- Natural gas DHW and hydronic heating
- 600 Amp; 3 phase power
Williams Engineering
Liv Ehlert, Project manager
Lindsay Austrom, Sustainability team lead
Laurence Kao, Building performance team lead
Jim Gilliland, Structural lead
Anca Cojocaru, Electrical lead
Mike Nowlan, Structural engineer
Danny Kim, Mechanical lead
Binghang Li, Building performance analyst
Tasha Hueston, Project coordinator
Innes Hood, Technical advisor
Integra Architecture
Shamus Sachs, Architect
Rhys Leitch, Architect
TLSE Engineering Inc.
Thomas Leung, Structural engineer
Michael Powley, Structural engineer
Advicas Group Consulting
Margarita Payne, Quantity surveyor
