Affordable housing is a pressing issue across the country, with demand far outpacing supply. Inflation, high interest rates, and the cost of land and construction have driven up costs and rent. Challenging market conditions means projects addressing the housing supply gap require strong collaboration and unique solutions.
Two unique Vancouver affordable housing projects are examples of what can be done by the construction industry. Both earned 2025 Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) Silver Awards of Excellence in the general contractors over $40 million category.
Bob & Michael’s Place
Bob & Michael’s Place is an innovative social housing project in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside that aspires to be a model for the future of social housing. The 10-storey concrete building offers 231 independent living homes along with a new 50,000-square-foot integrated health centre that serves the entire community.
As part of a successful collaboration between non-profit, public, and private expertise, Axiom Builder played a key role in delivering this project ahead of schedule and under budget. Meticulous planning was required to overcome challenges which included unexpected ground conditions and a tight urban site.
Another standout affordable housing project can be found in Vancouver’s Grandview Woodlands neighbour. Etro Construction completed two six-storey buildings, Timbre and Harmony, that provide 157 units for independent-living seniors and adults aged 55 plus. The new buildings replace 57 rental homes in two aging buildings lacking features for seniors aging in place.
Etro had to adhere to rigorous building requirements to meet Passive House certification standards. Timbre and Harmony are targeting Passive House, and Harmony is additionally built to Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Gold Standards, setting a new precedent for cost-effective sustainable housing in construction. This was Etro’s first Passive House project and was executed successfully due to careful planning and learning sessions to overcome the steep learning curve.
