Burdock House - Penticton

Additional Info

Award Winner : Metric Modular

Architectural Excellence : The four-storey permanent modular apartment building features 62 self-contained units approximate 350 sq. ft. each; four of those being accessible. Each unit was designed for a single occupant and includes sleeping area, a dinning space, living area, a bathroom and a kitchenette. The building also includes communal space for counselling and community meetings, a multi-purpose room, commercial kitchen and dining room. The outdoor amenities include a gazebo, bike and cart storage, and a pet-friendly running area. The building was complete using 44 modules with the largest modules being 12’x60’. The supportive housing facility is intended to provide a safe home for people at risk in the community to help them get a fresh start, so layout and overall design needed to be durable and respond to the needs of the residents. The design of the building exterior took into account the character of the neighborhood and surroundings to ensure it blends with fabric of the local community.

Cost Energy Effectiveness : Increasing the building size to 4-storeys allowed more units to be built on a very tight site. Density creates more efficiencies so a larger, denser project with more units offers cost savings as replication in the design allows the factory to produce modules much faster on the same foundation footprint.

Design Firm Name : Mobius Architecture Inc.

Engineering Firm Name : Canstruct Engineering (Structural)

Occupied Date : 10/1/2019

Owner Firm Name : BC Housing

Production Start Date : 1/2/2019

Project Location City : Penticton

Project Location State Name : BC

Technical Innovation : Sustainability was a very important aspect in the building of this facility as it was energy modeled and tested to use about 40 percent less energy than is currently mandated by existing building code. In order to achieve this level of efficiency, particular attention went into the modeling and design of the building envelope, airtightness metrics and the use of a highly efficient mechanical system. The result is a significant reduction in the operation expenses to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature and good air quality, which further helps the health and recovery process of its tenants. Additionally, the building was constructed using wood frame modules which offers a more cost efficient and sustainable way to build, as it captures carbon, and allows for construction to be complete much sooner. It is also more efficient thermally and very sound proof as it reduces sound transfers across units. For increased structural support, select fir was used on the first floor.

Total Square Feet : 31700