The McQuesten Lofts project by Indwell, in East Hamilton, was announced the co-winner of the Best Overall category for all PHIUS (Passive House US) projects in North America and also won in the Affordable category and an honourable mention in the Multifamily category. Congratulations to the entire project team on this great win!
Indwell is a non-profit charity organization that creates affordable housing communities to support people seeking health, wellness and belonging. This development provides homes for deeply marginalized people, many of whom have suffered homelessness, and addiction or those coming out of institutions, hospitals, and shelters. The project was developed in unison with local Indigenous organizations to address issues of Indigenous homelessness as 28% of the city of Hamilton’s homeless population is made up of Indigenous and aboriginal peoples.
SDG were the Landscape Architects of this four-storey, 50-unit affordable housing development. Our team designed the landscape with twelve traditional Indigenous plantings in the four directions of the Indigenous medicine wheel (hoop) around a central symbolic fire gathering named the healing garden. The native plants; Cedar, Tobacco, Sweet Grass and Sage are known in Indigenous culture to have natural healing benefits that can cure illnesses and relieve negative energy from the mind, body, and soul while also providing beautiful aesthetics as well.
Architecture: Invizij Architects
Energy: Zon Engineering Inc.
Structure: Kalos Engineering
Mechanical & Electrical: CK Engineering Inc.
Civil: S.Llewellyn & Associates
Construction: Schilthuis Construction
Planning Approval: T. Johns Consulting Group Ltd.
Landscape Architecture: SDG (Brad Smith)