Garneau Supportive Housing

The City of Edmonton set out to create a supportive housing community in one of its most walkable neighbourhoods—Garneau, a historic district where high-rise buildings sit beside century homes. 

The challenge was to design a place that feels rooted in the community while offering safety, privacy, and belonging for residents transitioning out of homelessness. Our team responded with a compact, four-storey building crafted to mediate scale and create a sense of home. The ground floor brings together secure entry, staff spaces, and resident supports, opening onto a sheltered outdoor amenity that feels more like a neighbourhood front porch than a traditional courtyard. This porch-like space invites daylight and greenery in while remaining secure and thoughtfully monitored.

Working with Indigenous-led firm pipikwan pêhtâkwan, the project integrates cultural guidance into its artwork, material palette, and program elements. A coloured perforated screen serves as both civic art and a gentle layer of privacy, while durable materials—split-face CMU, protected balconies, and long-lasting paving—support everyday resilience for residents and operators alike.

The building targets strong energy performance through a high-performance envelope, heat-recovery ventilation, and efficient central systems, reducing long-term operating costs.

Once complete, Garneau Supportive Housing will provide 34 dignified homes near transit, services, and the University of Alberta. More than a building, it strengthens neighbourhood diversity, supports stability, and creates a place where people can feel rooted—and begin again.