case Studies

Affordable Housing Development, Kitchener

Services
Key Personnel
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Paul Douglas, C.E.T.
Director, Functional Services
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Patrick Dowling
Manager, Environmental | London
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Kurt Ruhland, P.Eng.
Vice President
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Project Overview

Increased access to affordable housing is what led the team at Maxwell Building Consultants to transform the site at 18 Guelph Street into a multi-unit residential building. The three-storey structure brings a total of 13 affordable homes to the Kitchener community, with units that range from one to five bedrooms.

This development was made possible with funding from Ontario’s Investment in Affordable Housing program (IAH). Designed with sustainability in mind, the building is equipped with a rainwater recovery system and draws energy from solar panels to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

MTE’s Involvement

Because the site was previously occupied by an existing residential building and a shed, our first role on the project team was to provide environmental expertise related to the redevelopment. We completed a Designated Substance Audit in advance of demolition, as well as an Environmental Site Assessment and excess soil sampling in order to identify any challenges that would need to be mitigated. As a result, the necessary environmental approvals were secured so that redevelopment could progress.

Our geotechnical engineers also completed an assessment of the site to determine the soil and groundwater conditions of the property and provide recommendations for site grading, site servicing, foundations, basements, pavement design and subdrainage, and stormwater infiltration potential.

Our survey team then completed a topographical survey of the site and our civil engineers got to work designing the grading and servicing solutions. Thinking sustainably, our team was able to include low impact development (LID) stormwater management features in the overall site plan.

Our structural engineers completed the design of the three-storey, wood-framed structure. Prior to the start of construction, we performed a Pre-construction Condition Assessment of the adjacent properties in order to document any pre-existing conditions and to verify that they were not caused by the work on the site. We were also responsible for the contract administration and construction review and certification. Construction is now complete and residents have moved into their suites.