We love checking in with our partners after a project wraps up! We recently had the pleasure of reconnecting with Clarence Keesman, Executive Director of Refuge Outreach—an Oshawa-based charity that partnered with Invizij to transform a former Catholic school into 26 supportive housing units for youth experiencing homelessness.

Located at 357 Simcoe Street South, the three-storey building now features studio apartments, including four fully accessible units, and a community centre on the main floor. An elevator and wide hallways support accessibility for all residents.

This winter, Refuge Outreach’s youth-specific warming centre housed up to 10 young adults per night. Delivered in partnership with the Christian Faith Outreach Centre, the initiative has “worked out beautifully,” Clarence shared, highlighting how seamlessly the warming centre integrates with the housing. Utility costs, he added, have been surprisingly low.

Residents (aged 18-26) benefit from laundry facilities, storage lockers, and welcoming common spaces. In the past year alone, the facility supported over 575 individuals, recorded 14,000 visits, and served 27,000 meals.

The impact of stable housing is profound. After touring his 160-square-foot unit, one resident was ecstatic. “He asked, ‘Is this all for me?’” Clarence recalled. “Within two weeks, he had his job back. Without the housing component, he couldn’t move forward in life.”

Burn marks remain on the terrazzo floors—remnants from when people once broke into the vacant building to light fires for warmth. Today, the space offers far more than shelter: it provides safety, stability, encouragement, and a true sense of home.

On the exterior, a parapet etched with “Holy Cross” and other Christian symbols remains intact, prompting Heritage Oshawa to recommend designation to protect the site’s architectural and historical value.

Adaptive reuse projects like this remind us of the incredible potential within the buildings that already surround us. Preserving history while addressing urgent, real-world needs is work we’re deeply proud of—and we’re more excited than ever to keep doing it.

*photo 2 is a staged render of a typical unit ...

Invizij Architects is thrilled to support @hockeyhelpsca and the @ymcahbb once again this year! Our team, the Invizij Arch-Attacks, will be hitting the ice in the annual fundraising hockey tournament on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Mohawk 4 Ice Centre.

This event supports vital programs addressing homelessness in our community, an issue that has never been more urgent. In the Hamilton–Burlington–Brantford area alone, it’s estimated that over 2,000 men, women, and children experience homelessness on any given night.

You can help make a difference by donating through the 2026 Hockey Helps Homeless website, our Invizij Arch-Attacks team page, or Bob’s personal player page. All donations of $25 or more receive an instant tax receipt by email.

As a fun incentive, Bob will proudly place a 2” gold sponsorship sticker on his hockey helmet for every $100+ donation.

This uniquely Canadian approach shows how creativity and teamwork can help us strive to shut out homelessness for good. While goals may win hockey games, it’s the assists from everyone that truly matter. We sincerely hope we can count on your support!

Bob`s Personal Page: https://sl1nk.com/mf0cO ...

It was great to see a render of our Sacajawea 204 Gage Supportive Housing project featured in The Hamilton Spectator this past weekend. In the article, Teviah Moro highlights why many local non-profits are urging City Council to recommit to annual funding for supportive and affordable housing.

As noted in the piece, the City has committed $10.3 million annually in the 2024, 2025, and 2026 budgets for supportive housing—funding that has been allocated to 11 projects delivering roughly 500 units across the city.

This work builds on the momentum of Hamilton Is Home, the alliance launched in 2020 by @indwell.ca , YWCA, Sacajawea Non-Profit Housing, Good Shepherd, Victoria Park Community Homes, ( @vicparkch ) East Hamilton (Kiwanis) Non-Profit Homes, and CityHousing, with an initial goal of delivering 3,000 affordable homes.

Invizij Architects is proud to contribute to this collective effort! We’re looking ahead to continuing our work with this dedicated group in 2026 and beyond, as the alliance responds to growing demand—now targeting 6,000 new units, roughly equal to the number of households currently waiting for subsidized housing. ...

Comfortable, mood lifting spaces matter-- particularly during long, cold Canadian winters when much of our time is spent indoors! Workplace wellness was a key driver in our design for the @morisoninsurance.ca regional office in Hamilton. Generous natural light, thoughtfully planned layouts, and a balance of collaborative and quiet spaces support comfort, focus, and employee well-being throughout the day.

The result is a modern, efficient workplace that reflects Morison Insurance’s commitment to creating a healthy, supportive environment for both staff and clients. The new one-storey building features eight private offices, open workspace for up to 50 staff, multiple meeting rooms, and a large, welcoming kitchen. ...

Roof icicles are a very visible sign of roof heat loss and thermal bridging. This Kirkendall #passivehouse with 8 inches of exterior insulation on the sloped roof showcases this perfectly, compared to the 100+ year old house across the street.

External insulation with no thermal bridging is good building science, and also common sense! ...