The Budzey Building is a partnership between BC Housing, the City of Vancouver, and RainCity Housing. It is one of the twelve City owned sites which are being developed under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative (PHI) in an effort to address homelessness in the City of Vancouver.
The project consists of 3 major components: subsidized rental housing and support services, offices for RainCity Housing and Support Society and a commercial / retail component.
The residential component of the project consists of 105 PHI units plus 41 family rental apartments and amenity / support spaces. Residents will be varied but the resident focus group is women who are or at risk of becoming unhoused. It is not, however, restricted to women, but in case of a partnership breakdown, the women will retain the lease and housing.
The project is registered with the CAGBC and is designed to meet a LEED Gold standard.
“This public sector project is a model for energy-efficient high- rise residential design. The 30% window-to-wall ratio, the high- performance envelope with thermal breaks, radiant in-slab heating and heat recovery ventilation in each suite are strategies all private sector developers should try to emulate. This project is characterized by a remarkable quality and generosity of the interior spaces, making it an example of architecture that could truly transform the lives of its embattled residents.”
– Jury comment, Canadian Green Building Awards 2016