Construction is underway on Vienna House, an innovative 123-unit multi-residential building in East Vancouver.

The project, led by Kindred Construction and designed by Public Architecture, is being developed in partnership with BC Housing. It combines hybrid mass timber construction with Passive House design standards.

Vienna House will meet high sustainability standards by using mass timber and prefabricated components to cut construction emissions, store carbon, and divert 75 per cent of waste from landfills. Passive House certification will reduce energy use by 52 per cent, and electric systems will lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by nearly 90 per cent. In addition, University of British Columbia (UBC) researchers will create a digital twin to optimize building performance.

A notable feature of the project is its adoption of modular aluminum balconies, a new type of suspended outdoor space engineered to meet stringent thermal performance targets. These prefabricated balconies are designed for rapid installation and improved on-site safety, and align with the project’s goal of achieving near-zero operational emissions.

Vienna House’s design includes a mix of affordable, rent-geared-to-income, and affordable market rental units, with more than 45 per cent of units intended for families.