A new sustainable housing project is underway in Brampton, Ont., as part of the Region of Peel’s ambitious plan to introduce more than 5,650 new affordable rental units by 2034.

The initiative—led by the Peel Housing Corporation in collaboration with Montgomery Sisam Architects—aims to provide high-quality, cost-effective housing for low-income residents.

The project will see the addition of a 20-storey tower to the existing Chelsea Gardens complex, offering 200 units. The building’s design focuses on breaking down its massing into interconnected volumes, combining aluminum standing seam systems and masonry blocks with wood-look metal soffits. This approach aims to reduce the structure’s verticality and enhance its pedestrian-friendly appeal.

Inside, the ground floor will feature varied ceiling heights and floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby, along with shared amenity spaces. The use of exposed concrete and warm white mahogany aims to contribute to a serene atmosphere.

The design also includes a library, a communal kitchen, an outdoor play area for children, and a meeting room for resident events. Moreover, the project aims to achieve net-zero energy status through a high-performance building envelope, a geothermal loop with a distributed heat pump system, energy recovery on most ventilation systems, a 20 per cent window-to-wall ratio, and ultra-low flow fixtures.

This project is also targeting Zero Carbon Design certification under the Canada Green Building Council’s (CAGBC’s) Zero Carbon Building: Design Standard Version 3 and adhering to the Region of Peel’s Net Zero Emission (NZE) Building Standard for New Construction.

The building will also undergo a climate resilience risk assessment and will comply with the City of Toronto’s Minimum Backup Power Guidelines for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs), ensuring 72 hours of backup power and thermal energy for essential building systems and a central refuge area.

Projecting a 41 per cent decrease in energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to the 2015 National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB), Chelsea Gardens is eligible to receive the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CHMC) co-investment fund.