Pathway Non-Profit Housing in Mississauga, Ontario wanted to add additional units for seniors to their apartment building quickly, and with as little disruption as possible to their current residents. The solution? A mass timber vertical addition.
After much research, it was decided to add 2 new floors using a hybrid steel and cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure to the top of one of the existing building – a 30 year-old, 7-storey, 98 unit development called Abour Mill. This allowed Pathway to add 6 new accessible apartments: two 2-bedroom units and four 1-bedroom units, all with roll-in showers for seniors with walkers or wheelchairs.
Mass Timber – a Lightweight Building Material
This unique approach removed the need to find or develop new land – and as mass timber buildings are approximately 50% of the weight of comparable concrete buildings, the weight of mass timber addition required little to no reinforcement to the existing structure.
The addition became possible after the relaxation of zoning height restrictions that previously limited that section of the building to just four stories. It proved to be a cost-effective and innovative solution.
Embracing Sustainability and Efficiency
Pathway has always embraced sustainability and energy-efficient protocols – the original building was an award-winning sustainable project when it was built. Pathway, the architects and construction team were the first in Mississauga to use mass timber for a vertical addition, setting a precedent for Peel region.
Overall Benefits of the Project:
- Cost-Effective, efficient and fast to go up.
- Less workers and construction needed on site – Mass timber components were built offsite. Project went up quickly so there was less disruption to current residents and the neighborhood.
- “Gentle Diversification” – Adding to the current site did not have an adverse impact on adjacent properties. New residents could immediately be integrated into an already established community with support systems.
