Environmentally conscious childcare facilities

Gastown Daycare Facilities

With a mainly young professional demographic, Central Vancouver hasn’t historically been synonymous with a family friendly community. That perception is now shifting—especially with the new-parent and working-parent demographics—as the City works on implementing more affordable housing initiatives and creating more family-friendly facilities in the area.

In collaboration with Acton Ostry Architects, our sustainability consultants worked with the City of Vancouver to design two new childcare facilities in Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood: Gastown. The daycare facilities are Passive House and LEED Gold certified, located on the rooftop levels of two City-owned parkades, and provide 75 new childcare spaces. The design includes an airtight and highly-insulated envelope, high-performance windows, and a Passive House-certified energy recovery ventilator with 84% energy recovery. In addition, an air-source heat pump provides heating in winter and cooling in the summer months and the rooftop includes a solar panel system.

The project is a first of many future City initiatives to develop more sustainable spaces throughout Vancouver and improve the lifestyle of working parents, allowing them to be closer to their kids.