EllisDon delivers affordable housing for Londoners
By Adam Freill
Construction ResidentialAffordable housing development provides 61 units to residents of Ontario community.
(Source: EllisDon Corporation)
EllisDon and Ontario’s City of London recently celebrated the opening of a new 61-unit affordable housing development on Baseline Road West. The apartment building is one of the first projects successfully completed under the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI).
Consisting of one, two and three-bedroom units, along with common-use support spaces on each floor, the four-storey apartment complex aims to provide Londoners at risk of experiencing homelessness a safe, stable and affordable place to call home.
The successful completion of the project was a team effort between multiple departments within EllisDon and the city. EllisDon Community Builders (EDCB) led the combined effort in close partnership with EllisDon Construction, working with the city from feasibility, through design and completion.
A division of EllisDon dedicated to affordable housing that works directly with non-profit organizations and municipalities, EDCB’s access to expertise across many departments within the greater EllisDon group allows the team to provide a holistic and comprehensive approach to delivering the high quality, affordable and sustainable developments that communities need to address the ongoing housing crisis.
“This important project hits close to home for EllisDon, as our company’s roots are in London, Ontario,” said Mike Stewart, director of pre-construction at EllisDon. “We are honoured to provide affordable housing for the city where we live, work, and continue to build in.”
(Source: EllisDon Corporation)
From the onset, EDCB worked closely with the city to confirm the project’s feasibility and compliance with the federal funding requirements, particularly the achievement of substantial completion within the rigorous timing conditions of the RHI program.
EllisDon’s Energy & Digital Services (E&DS) team was brought into the project to assist with maximizing the efficiency of the building design and construction execution. During the build, the team’s involvement expanded to include the procurement, implementation and configuration of an integrated security system and supporting network.
The construction team was able to simplify the site’s installation, operation and management, and E&DS was able to value engineer a converged building network that supports the integrated security system, the in-building Wi-Fi solution, and property management systems, while delivering cost savings to the project by reducing infrastructure costs and space requirements.
“This project was on a very tight and demanding timeline for our builders,” said Patrick Cooper, director of municipal housing development for the City of London. “EllisDon understood that demand and the difference this development would make for so many in our community. And thanks to their hard work and this partnership, many Londoners now have a safe, affordable place to call home.”
