Affordable Housing

YWCA Building 2 – Affordable Housing

Type: Residential

Address: Kitchener, Ontario

YWCA Supportive Housing Building 2

Multi-Unit Residential

Based on the success of the award-winning YW Kitchener Waterloo Supportive Housing building project (also co-designed and built with mass timber from Element5), plans and designs were undertaken for a 2nd building to be developed on the same site (donated by the City of Kitchener). Like Building One, this project was also funded through the Federal Government’s Rapid Housing Initiative.

Mass Timber was again chosen for a number of reasons:

  • To speed construction and completion
  • For the health and well-being of occupants
  • For positive environmental benefits.

Affordable Housing for Mothers and Children

This affordable housing project is a 10-unit apartment building for mothers and children who have experienced homelessness, with rents set at 60-80% of market rate.

It differs from the Building One in a few ways – it is smaller in overall size, but units are larger in order to accommodate families. The Project was completed in less than one year of construction and welcomed occupants in March of 2023.

Both projects demonstrate how Element5’s sustainable, affordable housing solutions can adapt to different lot sizes, customer and occupant requirements.

> View the Element5 Affordable Housing Brochure online
> Download Element5 Affordable Housing Brochure [pdf: 35 MB]

About YWCA Building 2 – Affordable Housing

Architect / Designer
Location

Kitchener, ON

Owner
Scope

Supply of mass timber elements, steel connections, timber engineering, delivery, and assembly of mass timber components.

Photos

RILEY SNELLING

Products used

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