After the federal government announced the Build Canada Homes (BCH) agency last year, it invited feedback from industry experts across the country about how to develop affordable communities. Robyn Brown, principal of consulting engineering firm Arcadis’ Canada East placemaking group, was among those who responded to the call.
With more than 20 years’ experience in urban planning, economics and development, including involvement with Crown corporation Canada Lands’ master plan to add affordable housing in Ottawa through the Tunney’s Pasture redevelopment, she suggested (a) delivering small to medium-size developments quickly, (b) supporting Indigenous-led housing projects in northern and remote areas and (c) accelerating funding to increase industrial capacity for modular construction and prefabrication.
What would you like to see BCH accomplish?
We understand the federal government’s focus on large projects to address the housing crisis—they want bang for their buck—but many communities don’t have the sites or the infrastructure capacity for them. There’s an opportunity over time for smaller and medium-scale developments to add up. That’s where a lot of developers are more comfortable and where capital may be.
Encouraging modular housing is another opportunity, but it faces different building codes in each province. By harmonizing the building code at a national level and streamlining how new materials and methods are incorporated, BCH could encourage companies to invest and innovate, as they could apply one process across the country.
How can you help make modular housing more feasible?
We can bridge the gap between clients, builders and municipalities. We have already created innovative designs and used new materials, but an increased focus on modular will help enable easier implementation, reduce timelines and promote further innovation.
Modular housing offers advantages in terms of speed (and speed is money!) and environmental sustainability. We have experience delivering them quickly, including in First Nations communities, and we understand why these projects can be very efficient in terms of life-cycle costs. We are also talking to municipalities about how they can make them easier by addressing regulatory challenges.
I’m on the board for Mohawk College, where I can help students make connections with the industry. There’s a well-trained workforce ready to build houses in a whole different way than we’ve done historically. New grads know a lot more that I do!
What role do you see for engineering firms, going forward?
BCH is in its early stages as an agency, but we’re already seeing how it’s accelerating change and we expect that to continue. The question is how can we be part of the solution?
Engineering firms have a big role to play in interpreting BCH’s objectives and using them to inform designs. Beyond regulatory expertise, we can act as strategic problem-solvers, bringing forward solutions based on our understanding of community needs and budgets, to help accelerate housing delivery while ensuring quality.
