The newly unveiled design for Canada’s largest net-zero carbon residential community includes two towers that will create a new destination within Ottawa and form a striking gateway into LeBreton Flats. The development will be transit-oriented, mixed-income, mixed-use, and include unprecedented sustainability targets. Dream LeBreton is a partnership between real estate companies Dream Asset Management, Dream Impact, and local non-profit MultiFaith Housing Initiative.
The 2.5-acre Library Parcel site will become one of the first developments in the growing neighborhood that is part of the National Capital Commission’s Master Concept Plan. Consisting of two towers, 31 and 36 stories, the buildings will include 601 rental units, 41% of which will be classified as affordable.
The 247 affordable units will be earmarked for five target populations in need: Indigenous communities; women and children; immigrants/newcomers; veterans; and adults with cognitive disabilities. Of these, 132 will be operated and owned by MultiFaith Housing Initiative.
Perkins and Will and KPMB Architects designed the towers’ façade in collaboration with renowned Canadian artist Margaret Priest. Inspired by the Laurentian Forest and the historic red brick homes in neighboring communities, the façades will be cloaked in a vibrant red.
As the towers rise, the colors lighten, creating a slender appearance and drawing the eye to the sky. Taking advantage of the site’s location, the towers are intentionally rotated and offset to one another, ensuring all units benefit from beautiful views of Ottawa’s key landmarks, including Parliament Hill, Gatineau River, and Dow’s Lake.
Six-story podiums that terrace down will reveal a large active ground level that pays homage to indigenous principles and histories. Envisioned as a central gathering place, the all-season ground level offers opportunities to host ceremonies, events, public art, and serves as a vibrant destination for socializing and meeting.
Through a deep engagement process led by Innovation Seven with Indigenous elders, youth, and community members, the team will further develop and incorporate sacred and culturally significant features.
The community will be operationally net-zero carbon, LEED Gold, and One Planet Living accredited. To achieve these ambitious sustainability targets, the team will employ a high-performance building envelope, integrated photovoltaic solar panels, and natural daylight harvesting enhanced by the buildings’ orientations. In addition, natural plantings and non-toxic, regionally sourced materials will be used throughout the design.
On the project team:
Owner and/or developer: Dream LeBreton
Architects: Perkins and Will, KPMB
MEP engineer: Smith+Andersen
Structural engineer: RJC
Civil engineer: TY Lin
General contractor/construction manager: ElisDon
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Dec 6, 2022
Miami-Dade County will allow accessory dwelling units
Commissioners in Miami-Dade County, Fla., recently voted to allow many single-family homeowners to rent out accessory dwelling units on their property. Many homeowners will be allowed to rent out garages, separate quarters, or detached backyard apartments if they meet certain standards including for lot size and parking.
Multifamily Housing | Dec 6, 2022
Support for multifamily rent control legislation grows as metros face big rent hikes
Steep rent increases during the pandemic recovery have spurred support for rent control legislation in several areas of the country.
Mixed-Use | Dec 6, 2022
Houston developer plans to convert Kevin Roche-designed ConocoPhillips HQ to mixed-use destination
Houston-based Midway, a real estate investment, development, and management firm, plans to redevelop the former ConocoPhillips corporate headquarters site into a mixed-use destination called Watermark District at Woodcreek.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 29, 2022
Number of office-to-apartment conversion projects has jumped since start of pandemic
As remote work rose and demand for office space declined since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, developers have found converting some offices to residential use to be an attractive option. Apartment conversions rose 25% in the two years since the start of the pandemic, with 28,000 new units converted from other property types, according to a report from RentCafe.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 22, 2022
10 compelling multifamily developments debut in 2022
A smart home tech-focused apartment complex in North Phoenix, Ariz., and a factory conversion to lofts in St. Louis highlight the notable multifamily developments to debut recently.
Sponsored | Multifamily Housing | Nov 16, 2022
Commercial Framer Training: Back to Basics for Big Buildings
A glimpse into the most common wood construction framing errors, and how to avoid them, in today’s nonresidential construction industry.
Legislation | Nov 13, 2022
U.S. voters pass numerous affordable housing measures
Voters in many U.S. jurisdictions passed housing measures Nov. 8 that will collectively set aside billions of dollars in new funding to create more affordable housing and provide protections for renters.
BAS and Security | Oct 19, 2022
The biggest cybersecurity threats in commercial real estate, and how to mitigate them
Coleman Wolf, Senior Security Systems Consultant with global engineering firm ESD, outlines the top-three cybersecurity threats to commercial and institutional building owners and property managers, and offers advice on how to deter and defend against hackers.
