Location: Hamilton, ON
Client: City Housing Hamilton
Final Construction Cost: $21,000,000
Architect of Record: Invizij Architects Inc
Design Consultant: Toms + McNally Design
The redevelopment of the old City Motor Hotel site adjacent to the Queenston Traffic Circle is intended to facilitate densification of the East Hamilton community while also considering the evolving needs and requirements for new affordable and social housing.
The first phase provides 40 new affordable dwelling units in a six-storey, mixed-use building. The building’s Queenston Road façade, already set back from the street edge to accommodate future road widenings, is further set back to ensure a generous front sidewalk for pedestrians into the future. The ground floor offers commercial retail, entry to the residential component, and shared amenity space. The upper floors contain a mix of one- and three-bedroom suites located along double loaded corridor bars which are shifted to bring daylight to ends of the corridors.
Sunshading elements are provided on residential levels, their warm woodgrain finish shifting across the facade. Recognizing the building will be viewed by the many vehicles who pass the site, the sun shades animate the facade in a simple way – hiding and revealing the wood texture as the viewers approach and pass the building. A YWCA childcare centre opens onto the shared courtyard, offering a safe and welcoming environment distanced from the busy road. Nestled between the phase one building and the northern area designated for phase two, the courtyard contains seating and a small play area for residents and their young children to enjoy.
From the outset, the schematic design prioritized place-making and sustainability. Daylight-filled corridors reduce the need for artificial lighting, while ACM exterior sunshades help manage solar gain. A rooftop solar PV system generates clean energy, and the building enclosure is built with 8” of continuous exterior insulation supported by thermally broken clips. The structure uses a low-carbon, wood-framed system with Rockwool insulation, and has been tested to achieve an airtightness of 0.3 ACH @ 50 Pa. With a total energy use intensity (TEUI) of just 39 kWh/m²/year, the project has been pre-certified as a Low Energy Building by Passive House International.
Three murals by The Architect’s Garage celebrate the site’s rich history and future. Themes include: the historic incline railway; a 1950s auto scene referencing the former City Motor Hotel; and a forward-looking depiction of the upcoming LRT.
