The Vento and Currents development projects were among the first multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) to seek LEED certification in Canada, and they were also both mixed-use projects. Not having taken into account the unique nature of MURBs or mixed-use projects in the LEED NC rating system, these projects faced many challenges during their LEED certification process.

Recognizing that this was a key sector to bring onside with the CaGBCs mission of transforming the marketplace, the CaGBC initiated a process to adapt the LEED NC rating system through the development of an Application Guide for Low- and High-rise Residential Buildings.

 

In order to help address the barriers, an SSG member working for BuildGreen, was selected to manage the Canadian Green Building Council’s MURB task force. This included facilitating a dialogue with over 20 stakeholders from across Canada working in the real estate development and design fields, and the preparation of the final application guide.

• Inviting members to participate in the CaGBC MURB task force and facilitating its work.

• Addressing technical barriers to LEED certification for multi-unit residential buildings.

• Preparing draft and final Application Guides for review and adoption by the task force, as well as by the CaGBC and its membership.

• Testing the strategies and alternative compliance paths proposed for the guide on real projects.

SSG has worked extensively at the leading edge of green building in Canada and has helped shape the standards in green building. Working with key stakeholders from across the country from the development, design, construction, real estate, and policy making communities, we contributed our expertise and innovative thinking to refining the LEED NC rating system to include MURBs. In response to the task forces’ recommendations, the CaGBC adapted 15 credits and prerequisites to make them more applicable and achievable for multi-unit residential projects. These were then written up as the Low- and High-rise Residential Application Guide. This work has since been included in the primary LEED NC resources as compliance paths available for residential projects and many residential and mixed-use projects have successfully earned LEED certification through the CaGBC.