Sustainability & Environmental Consulting

Parkway House, located in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Ottawa, faced the challenge of redeveloping a 2.5-acre site currently occupied by a non-profit care facility for adults with severe physical disabilities. The goal was to transform this site into a sustainable community while ensuring the long-term viability of the existing care facility. Windmill Development Group, committed to One Planet Living principles, aimed to create a high-quality, low-carbon urban development that would integrate seamlessly with the surrounding environment.

To address these challenges, Windmill Development Group, in collaboration with sustainability advisors Urban Equation, developed a comprehensive action plan that included robust key performance indicators across all ten principles of One Planet Living. The plan focused on achieving net-zero carbon emissions through the design of the new residential towers, which will include geothermal energy supply and excellent water efficiency measures. Parkway House is designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification and aligns with the Ottawa High Performance Design Standard Tier 2, ensuring that the project meets the highest sustainability standards.

The redevelopment will consist of three residential towers, providing a total of 555 homes, including a mix of studios, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. A significant aspect of the project is the Parkway House Community Benefits Plan, which aims to create job opportunities for equity-seeking groups, targeting 20% of construction jobs to be filled by these groups. Additionally, the project will incorporate 25% nature-friendly landscaping, utilizing best practices in native planting and bird-safe design.

The quantifiable benefits of the Parkway House project include not only the provision of modern accommodation for residents of the care facility but also the establishment of a sustainable community that prioritizes health, happiness, and environmental stewardship. This redevelopment is expected to secure the financial viability of the Parkway House non-profit care facility while contributing to the overall sustainability goals of the region.