Waterproofing and Insulation of Community Housing in Ottawa

Case study: The Largest Residential Passive House Building in Canada

Project Group

  • Project Name: Mosaïq, 811 Gladstone Avenue
  • Owner: ARRIV Properties
  • Architect: Hobin Architecture Incorporated
  • General Contractor: EllisDon Corporation
  • Installer: Covertite Eastern Ltd.
  • Consultant: Morrison Hershfield
  • SOPREMA Representative: Marc-André Sarazin

SOPREMA Systems

  • Building Components: Walls and roof
  • Types of Solution: Waterproofing and insulation

Products:

Walls (30,000 sq. ft.):
Roof (18,500 sq. ft.):
Year of Construction: 2021

Project Description

Mosaïq, the 140-unit project at 811 Gladstone Avenue, is the first affordable housing community project launched by ARRIV Properties (Ottawa Community Housing, operating as ARRIV Properties). It consists of a six-storey apartment building and two units of stacked town homes, as well as common living spaces with an area of 5,000 square feet, which include, among other things, green spaces with play modules for children and a fitness room. This project will meet the needs of a mixed community of diverse origins and all ages (young people, couples, singles, families, seniors, etc.). More info at mosaiq811.ca.

Mosaïq fills a gap in the Ottawa rental market and sets the standard for quality, sustainable living at an affordable price.

SOPREMA products were used in the construction of the 108-unit apartment building, comprising 15 studios, 59 one-bedroom units, 38 two-bedroom units, and 20 three-bedroom2. The building is fully accessible and will include 15% of the units for people with reduced mobility.

EllisDon Corporation

Why Is This Project So Impressive?

The apartment building at 811 Gladstone Avenue will be the largest Passive House residential building in Canada. SOPREMA’s products have contributed to its PHIUS+ (Passive House Institute of the United States) 2015 Passive Building Standard, which makes it highly energy-efficient without compromising on the comfort of its inhabitants. PHIUS+ allows builders the flexibility to work with local suppliers who can produce these high-efficiency and high-quality materials, thus spurring local economic growth.

“SOPREMA was chosen for its wide variety of products which met the strict requirements of the project.”
Ryan TannahillQuality Coordinator, EllisDon Corporation

During Mosaïq’s construction, extreme importance was placed on the airtightness of the exterior envelope. The concrete structure with wood-framed exterior walls was sealed with SOPRASEAL STICK 1100 T, a self-adhesive air/vapour barrier membrane. Triple-glazed windows and doors have also been installed, along with a ventilation system that recovers up to 85% of the heat from the air exiting in the ventilation system in order to heat the incoming air.

Passive House construction can reduce energy costs by more than 80% compared to standard construction, and in this case, the heating bill for each tenant will not exceed $100 per year.

“At SOPREMA, our goal is to provide materials that improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Passive houses are a win-win solution for owners and tenants, and we are proud to contribute to these innovative and sustainable projects”
Marc-André SarazinTechnical Sales Representative, SOPREMA – Ottawa Office

Sources:

[1] NEWS RELEASE: 811 Gladstone Avenue – Affordable, Sustainable, Engaging – Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) (och-lco.ca)
[2] Technical-Briefing-Handout-811-Gladstone-EN.pdf (och-lco.ca)
[3] Microsoft Word – Fotenn OCH Planning Rationale 811 GLADSTONE FINAL December 5, 2018 (ottawa.ca)