Coniston Non-Profit Seniors Housing

*South view of Completed Project with Balconies*

Project Duration:	2019 – 2023
Project Location:	City of Greater Sudbury, ON
Size:	55,000 sf
Keywords:	Non-Profit Seniors Housing Multi-Unit Residential Net Zero Energy Toronto Green Standard Tier 4 Aging In-Place PV Panels & Solar Thermal Panels

Project Description

The project is a 55,000 square foot, 5-storey, 51-unit Multi-Unit Residential Building of affordable rental housing for Seniors. It is located on a plot of underutilized land donated by the City of Sudbury just outside of Coniston. The clients are the Coniston Non-Profit Seniors Housing Corporation who hired Coolearth to create a beautiful, energy efficient, Net Zero energy, simple yet functional building, which is also accessible, designed for aging in-place, and cost-effective.

Coolearth was involved from the very beginning of the project working with a complex stakeholder team including the Coniston Non-Profit Seniors Housing Corporation, the CMHC, the City of Sudbury, and our team of consultants. We dealt with multiple deadlines, agencies, and stakeholders through funding setbacks and successes to secure the land, get the necessary approvals, design the building, and supervise it’s construction.

Key features and technologies incorporated into this project include: a high performance envelope with triple-pane windows, continuous low-embodied carbon external insulation, air tight barrier/tapes, and careful detailing for thermal bridges. Additional features include a Heat Recovery sewer pipe; PV panels and Solar Thermal Panels for hot water; air source heat pump systems with variable speed, on demand ventilation in each unit; low energy elevators; energy meters for each suite; a Building Automation System for smart-integrated building management; and LED lighting.

The project’s annual GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions reductions is 157 Tonnes of CO2e. It uses almost 40% less energy, has a 39% reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and a 33% reduction in Peak Demand, when compared to the OBC SB-10 Reference building. To give you a sense of the performance of this building, though it is located in Sudbury’s harsh climate, it would qualify for the Toronto Green Standard Tier 4 performance level. It also received full points for Energy Efficiency under the CMHC’s rental mortgage housing criteria. We believe sustainability translates into increased durability and decreased operating costs.