YWCA Elm Centre’s 300 Units

  • 150 affordable apartments to single women and women with children
  • 100 apartments to women and women-led families living with mental health and/or addiction issues
  • 50 apartments to families of Aboriginal ancestry with 10 units for Aboriginal women fleeing violence
  • 15% of the apartments are designated for women over 50 years of age.

Later this summer, the doors will open at the new YWCA Elm Centre. From a building perspective, the Elm Centre is a unique affordable housing project for two key reasons. First, it integrates Toronto’s first homeless shelter, which is one of the city’s oldest remaining structures, within its three modern towers. Second, it has emphasized the integration of building green. Built to the LEED® Silver standard, the Elm Centre will include one of the largest residential applications of geothermal technology in North America.

The geo-thermal/in-slab radiant heating and cooling system the Elm Centre will be incorporating, uses the Earth’s thermal energy to heat and cool the residential buildings. Making this decision involved careful analysis. “Given that this is among the largest residential applications of geothermal in North America, we made sure that we did our due diligence. We did a lot of research and asked a lot of questions,” says Joan White, the YWCA’s Director of Housing, Support and Development. “While the geo-thermal system would cost $7 million and the baseline system would cost $3 million, we knew that going geo-thermal was the right thing to do,” she adds.

Such systems are typically three to five times more efficient than conventional systems. In this case, it is estimated to create a saving of 45% (415 tonnes per year) in greenhouse gas emissions, which goes beyond the City of Toronto’s green building standards of creating a saving of at least 25%. While the estimated payback period is 12-15 years, geo-thermal equipment can last up to 100 years.

The complex will incorporate numerous other green features:

  • All 300 apartments will be outfitted with ENERGY STAR®-rated appliances.
  • Window installations will consist of energy-efficient LoĒ3-366® windows, built with a triple layer of silver to provide the highest level of year-round comfort and energy savings.
  • Each building will contain a tri-sorter waste system, where residents can dispose of their garbage, recyclables and organics from a single garbage chute on their floor.

The Elm Centre will also offer three green roofs, two rooftop gardens and an outdoor play area to reduce the heat island effect. To support green travel, bikes takes precedence over cars, with a large secure parking area fit for hundreds of bicycles. Being in the heart of downtown, the complex is also widely accessible by public transit.

Being one of Canada’s largest and most innovative green housing projects, these green additions will offer economic, community, and environmental benefits.

Economic Benefits:

  • Roof materials will last twice as long as a conventional roof, which will minimize the cost of maintenance and replacement fees.
  • The geo-thermal technology and energy-efficient appliances and windows will reduce the cost of energy usage.

Community Benefits:

  • Residents will have the opportunity to recycle and compost, allowing them to take part in sustainable practices.
  • Residents will have green spaces and gathering areas, which will provide a secure and relaxing space for their leisure.

Environmental Benefits:

  • The reduced distribution of dust and particulate matter will enhance resident comfort.
  • The building’s improved air quality will create a healthy environment for residents.

Visit the YWCA Elm Centre website to learn more about this project.