The Guild – Calgary's University District Luxury Townhomes!

This week, CTV News Calgary interviewed Crystal Creek Homes’ Sales Manager, Andrea Irwin, about the highly anticipated Guild Townhomes in the University District. The Gravity team is thrilled to hear about the public's enthusiasm for these homes and is proud to be part of this buzz-worthy development, which will offer luxury spaces for residents seeking low-maintenance living with high-quality features—including elevators in each unit!

Calgary's University District is rapidly expanding and has become one of the most sought-after areas in the city. During the CTV interview, Irwin shared that building luxury homes in such a desirable location is what truly sets Guild Townhomes apart.

Whether designed for empty nesters looking to embrace modern living with comfort and convenience as a priority, or for families who will appreciate the 2-3 bedroom floorplans and customizable design elements, the Guild Townhomes are sure to meet a variety of lifestyle needs. Irwin highlighted, “We have a wide variety of buyers that are looking towards living at Guild townhomes, the maintenance free living, whether you're busy working long hours or simply just wanting to lock and leave and go travel for six months, Guild offers this maintenance-free living."

CTV also asked for more details about what makes these homes truly luxurious. “What makes them unique and so incredible is that we are offering private elevators for every one of our town homes. So whether you use it as a service list for groceries, luggage or perhaps mobility issues, it takes you all the way from your ground level to your private rooftop terrace.,” explained Irwin.

Gravity solved Crystal Creek’s challenges regarding how to integrate these elevators into each unit of the three-storey buildings. Because an elevator pierces each floor plate inflexibly, our team designed the elevators to fit into a fixed location on each floor while still maintaining easy access to essential spaces throughout the homes.

Click the link here to watch the full CTV interview! You can also access our page with more details on Gravity’s design process and the challenges we solved for these homes by clicking the button below.

Student Research! Let's Discuss Single-Stair Housing

Gravity Architecture is pleased to be partnering with the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning + Landscape this fall as we research the implications and policy amendments surrounding single-stair egress in medium density residential projects - also known as a Point Access Block (PAB) development. Through SAPL’s Workplace Integrated Learning program, Gravity is collaborating with a cohort of 5 senior SAPL M.Arch students to explore the qualities of PAB, led by our own SAPL alumni: Noel Heard and Maureen Carrigy.

This summer, the government of British Columbia announced their intention to change the BC building code to allow for small residential apartment buildings (up to six storeys) to be built with only one means of egress - a single exit stairwell core. This type of development is common outside of North America and at Gravity we are often impressed by international buildings that utilize this technique as they offer a level of efficiency to small sites that our current building practices don’t allow for in Canada. The potential that PAB design offers to expand the range of housing available in the British Columbia market will be immensely impactful in mitigating the housing crisis. PAB provides a new set of tools that will allow developers to build residential architecture more efficiently and on a wider range of sites. To ignite our research and hopefully curate a proposal that supports policy change in favour of PAB’s, we looked to jurisdictions in North America already experimenting with this typology, such as Seattle, and made the decision to have our research team participate in the Buildner Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge for Point Access Block housing. By participating in the competition, we believe this will provide our research team the best opportunity to develop a strong, robust, proposal and provide a mechanism that effectively tests the potential of Point Access Block in very realistic conditions.

Point Access Block (PAB) housing is a common and efficient residential design method used in urban environments across most of the world, especially Europe. This design approach, characterized by a single staircase that serves all units, supports high-density living, promotes walkable neighborhoods, and enhances urban sustainability through the utilization of smaller infill sites otherwise left undeveloped. However, despite these benefits, this housing typology is largely absent in North America due to stringent building codes that mandate dual staircases for building egress above two or three stories. These restrictive regulations have contributed to the housing crisis by limiting the diversity and affordability of housing options given the land-area requirements for traditional multi-housing development.

Over 12 weeks of researching and experimenting, we aim to explore and highlight the limitations of restrictive building codes and strive for change to allow for the Single-Stair building typology. By showcasing innovative designs, the studio seeks to influence building code changes that will allow for more diverse, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions in North America. Our goal is to research, learn, and ultimately curate feasible designs to submit to the Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge. Split into two research teams, the students have been enlisted with designing a mid-rise, single stair residential building on a site outlined by the competition brief, under the mentorship of Gravity Architecture. The designs will maximize the potential of the site, promote sustainability, enhance the visual and functional character of the neighborhood, and be respectful of realistic budgets and construction practices. By participating in a design competition based in Denver, it is our goal to use the lessons learned to better understand how change can be implemented within the Canadian context.

Development Permit Approved for University District Townhomes!

We are thrilled to share that the Development Permit for Crystal Creek's University Townhomes has been approved! This 40-unit townhouse project in Calgary's University District specifically addresses aging in place with comfort and convenience. Unique features of these homes include an elevator in each unit that travels to every floor, including a roof top patio!

Parks surround the site allowing residents to feel connected to the outdoors. They also offers direct access to the city's regional pathways.

Stay tuned on more updates for this exciting project, and click below to read more!

Development Permit Released for OPUS'S The Nines!

The Development Permit for "The Nines" by OPUS is now released!

This exciting new mixed-use project is located at the intersection of Elbow Drive and Southland Drive, bordering Calgary's Southwood and Haysboro communities. The development will feature 13,500 square feet dedicated to a variety of commercial spaces, including a fitness centre. Above, 85 apartments with views of the city and mountains will offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations.

Casual observers may think that architectural design is mainly massing and facade treatments. However, one of the significant design challenges Gravity solved with this project was providing barrier-free access from both Elbow Drive and Southland Drive given the slopes of both street and the site itself, and limits to the depth the parking garage could be sunk. By sloping the vehicle access down from the lane along the west side of the building before starting the underground ramp we were able to keep the garage shallow and the doors at street level.

We are thrilled to collaborate with OPUS to transform this vacant lot into a mixed-use building that not only provides essential housing but also brings welcome new commercial space into this established community.

Click below to read more about The Nines mixed-use!

Construction Progress for Sage Hill Townhomes!

Construction is underway for Sage Hill Towns!

This development by Logel Homes is in the northwest community of Sage Hill and features 52, three-storey townhomes across ten buildings. The landscaping includes private and common outdoor amenity space, with the common area defined by a central pergola for people to gather. With privacy as a priority we also included private fenced-in patios for majority of the units, and ensured each unit to have their own balconies.

There was an opportunity to have the grading of this parcel allow for two distinct entry styles. We designed one entry to be lower and be below the level of the garage entry. The second is similar to a split level— with the entry elevated at a landing between the garage and main living levels.

We are very pleased with how the Sage Walk Townhomes are coming along. Click below to learn more about the project and view more photographs of the construction progress!

DP released for Avalon's Greystone Townhomes in Cochrane!

The Development Permit has been released for the Zen Greystone Townhomes by Avalon Master Builder!

These townhomes have been designed to meet the needs of various family sizes and provide energy-efficient solutions throughout its design. The classic gable roof, oriented for sun potential, can host a solar array for energy efficiency supporting Avalon's Net Zero strategy.

Avalon prioritizes Net Zero and Net Zero Ready homes in their projects, including this one. The Zen townhomes are available for rental-only and their Emerge projects will be available for purchase. We have collaborated closely with Avalon on various projects to help them meet their Net Zero goals, and we are proud to celebrate the strides forward we have made together through this journey.

The construction process for the walls of the homes will use a prefabricated method which will help the townhomes be built as efficiently and quickly as possible. Construction is just around the corner, so stay tuned for updates as things progress for the community of Greystone, in Cochrane, Alberta!

Click below to learn more about this exciting project!

DP Released for Avalon's Net Zero Mixed Use!

The Development Permit has been released for Avalon’s Net Zero Mixed Use building!

This mixed-use five-story building will feature 56 apartment units, ranging from 550 to 1250 square feet, available in one and two-bedroom configurations. It will also house Avalon’s new headquarters, several other commercial units, and provide an underground parkade.

What makes this project so exciting is that it is part of a larger Avalon development that includes Avalon's Seton Townhome project. All the buildings on this site will incorporate Net Zero initiatives. Further, the townhomes will be prefabricated to quickly meet the area's housing demand ensuring the construction process moves as efficiently as possible.

We initially explored a mass-timber approach to the structure of this building. This structure would have provided more open, flexible office spaces on the lower levels, yet allow the more compartmentalized one and two-bedroom units on the upper floors. During this exploration, we drew inspiration from the natural hierarchy of a tree—from trunk to branch to twig—to guide our design. Although we eventually decided against using mass timber due to the lower fire resistance requirements for this building size, the concept of a tree's natural hierarchy still influenced the final design, and is visible in the arrangement of balconies, windows, and material joints on the facade.

We are thrilled that this development permit release will now allow us to move forward with the construction phase. As the project progresses, we'll continue to share updates on this important project. Click the button below to learn more.

Crane Spotted at Shaganappi!

Crane!

Not only is the crane now on site at NAI Advent's Shaganappi Multi project, but the Development Permit was just released!

Adjacent to Bow Trail, the Shaganappi Multi will deliver 99 residential units in Calgary’s southwest community of Shaganappi. The development will provide studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom options for rent, ranging from 475 to 1200 square feet in area.

The unit identity, façade articulation, and balcony privacy are achieved through a pixelated three-dimensional composition integral to the architectural massing. This hyperarticulation responds to privacy adjacencies— smaller balconies with less glazing are located higher and positioned to reduce overlook into neighbours’ yards. Rectangular ‘pixels’ puncture the massing to carve outdoor amenity spaces within the façade while simultaneously facilitating porosity for natural lighting and views. The ‘C’ shaped building form was designed to maximize the number of units through the use of a double loaded corridor. As a result, a private amenity courtyard is naturally formed within the confines of the building mass, with a large portion of the available units having views to this sheltered landscaped space.

The Shaganappi Multi is a sister project to the Killarney Multi which is also making progress in construction!

Click below to find out more about the Shaganppi Multi!

Bowness 24 Multi Construction Almost Complete!

The construction for the Bowness 24 Multi Residential is making progress—we are excited to share an update on this unique addition to Calgary northwest community of Bowness!

The Bowness community is divided into two centres. The Main Street shops are situated on the east side of the CP mainline, while the community hall, high school, and grocery store are centrally located on the west side. Although Bowness is predominantly a low-density community, the western centre is adjacent to a pocket of multi-residential development.

The Bowness 24 Multi stands out as a more contemporary building compared to the neighbouring townhouse clusters and low-rise apartments. It provides much-needed density with 1 and 2 bedroom units and offers an urban interpretation of the smaller-scale multifamily buildings nearby. The building's design features an intentionally restrained palette the uses white Hardie lap siding against dark corrugated metal cladding, complemented by the warmth of the wood soffit. A low-sloped roof with generous overhangs reinforces the residential architectural language. Surface parking is provided at the rear of the building for both occupants and visitors.

Click below to learn more!

Killarney Multi Underway!

Strategically located just a few blocks away from Calgary's popular 17th Avenue — a commercial corridor and Main Street focused on further redevelopment - the Killarney Multi is a 96 unit building by NAI Advent that will soon become a significant addition to the area.

This multi-residential project will benefit from the new land use amendments and infrastructure improvements brought about by the redevelopment of the 37th Street Main Street. The architectural design of the project highlights unit identity, facade articulation, and balcony privacy with a pixelated three-dimensional look. Lower parts of the building have traditionally stacked balconies, while side-facing units have none to reduce overlook onto the adjacent low density housing. This design enhances visibility around the building edges, especially at the corner site. Rooftop amenity spaces are placed to maximize sun exposure and views, creating a visually appealing urban living environment.

There are numerous design considerations that went into this project—be sure to click below to read the full description on the Killarney Multi.

Video Release! 1601 Kensington Brought To Life.

Video Release! We are excited to showcase the proposed 1601 Kensington project.

This multi-story, mixed-use building was to be located on the western edge of the Kensington shopping district in northwest Calgary. Although the project has been suspended, we still wanted to showcase our vision for the project. Noel Heard, one of Gravity's Intern Architects, created the animations, and Bryce Baker from Clasual, produced the video. Together they created this visual narrative that illustrates the objectives and potential of 1601 Kensington.

This 8-story project was slated for development on the vacant lot at the southwest corner of Kensington Road and 14th Street NW. The project aimed to enhance the housing options in one of Calgary's most established communities. Our team remains enthusiastic and committed to creating similarly impactful multi-residential and mixed-use projects throughout BC and Alberta.

We hope you enjoy the video! Click below to learn more about the work and considerations that went into 1601 Kensington.

OPUS's 'The Nines' Breaking Ground!

We're thrilled to celebrate the progress on 'The Nines,' which OPUS recently broke ground on!

If you can spot the hardhat with the G on it, you'll see our principal, Trent, enjoying a sunny day with the eager project team all ready to get construction underway. 'The Nines' will be an 85-unit mixed-use development for OPUS, located at the intersection of Elbow Drive and Southland Drive in Calgary’s Haysboro community. We are now on our way to providing the community with a six-storey building featuring 16,000 square feet of retail space below the 85 apartments. Our updated renderings below give you a sneak peek of what's to come!

The residential units, ranging from 450 to 1300 square feet, will span the second to sixth floors. They will be available in one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations, each offering private balconies accessible from the main bedroom and living room.

One challenge encountered in the design was integrating an underground parking structure into the constrained depth resulting from the site's slope from one corner to the other. Our objective was to ensure barrier-free entrances from both streets, along with creating an inviting streetscape for both the main entrance and the retail areas facing the public streets.

We’re proud to be a part of a team providing more housing for Calgarians and opportunity for businesses.

As construction on 'The Nines' gets out of the ground, we'll continue to showcase its progress. To learn more about how we tackled the design challenges and explore the project’s unique features, click the button below!

Seton West Phase 2 DP Approval

Development permit approved for this forward-thinking transit oriented development

Seton West Phase 2 is a three-building multi-residential project designed for Logel Homes on the south edge of the community of Seton. The development has three buildings with a total of 238 units and features two 4-storey buildings and one 5-storey. Bordered by a stormwater pond to the north and the future Green Line LRT platform to the east, making this an important development for small to medium sized families who value sustainability and accessibility. The landscape design offers exterior gathering spaces for opportunities to connect with neighbours and gather with friends and family via a shared pathway system. Additionally, off-leash dog areas are accessible from the walking paths allowing residents the freedom to explore with their furry companions. This LRT Line is highly anticipated by Calgarians, and Seton West’s convenient access—along with its impressive landscape—allows first-time home owners, families, or retired individuals to enjoy these amenities with ease and comfort.

Each building, housing 1- and 2-bedroom units, features large black frames that integrate the balconies into the façade, creating a striking visual effect. These frames are consistent in height across all the buildings, establishing a cohesive horizontal datum that is complemented by a clean, uninterrupted roofline. The entrances to each building are marked by distinct rectangular white arches, supporting canopies that accompany the black frame elements. The buildings have been designed for maximum sun exposure, therefore units will have light-filled spaces, open floor plans, and large balconies. 

We are thrilled to share this Development Permit approval and further modernize residential design, with the added benefits of nature, convenience and community. Click here to find more information on this project. 

Zen Mahogany NetZero Towns & Care Facility DP Approved!

Our team is thrilled to announce the DP approval for the Zen Mahogany NetZero Residential & Care Facility!

Situated in Calgary's southeast community of Mahogany, this project an example of sustainable and family-oriented development. It features a mix of residential buildings, including several townhome typologies offering a total of 144 residential units with 1-3 bedroom configurations.

A key aspect of this development is its integrated Care Facility, which provides 24/7 support for individuals with diverse care needs. Our goal with this design is to help keep multi-generational families together and to help curb the loneliness epidemic. We ensured to foster a connection with the outdoors, as that is essential for mental health and well-being, especially for those with limited mobility. 

Responding to the client’s design brief, this building’s exterior imbues a sense of warmth with durable materials reflecting a wood-grain metal cladding, white board and batten, and black metal siding, accented with mass timber elements, maximizing the allowable glazing on each side to achieve airy, light-filled rooms. In addition to residential spaces, the development includes outdoor amenities like landscaped patios and covered porches with built-in seating.

We are driven by the challenge to continually address zoning, density, and accessibility issues and are excited with the progress achieved alongside Avalon Master Builders in taking steps towards creating more sustainable and inclusive living environments.

For more information on this project click here.

Richmond Fourplex Rowhouse Complete!

Optima has now completed the Richmond Fourplex, located in the vibrant southwest community of Richmond. Drawing influence from the Rocky Mountains, the project features a dynamic roofline and strategic stepped architecture to address the challenges of its steep site.

Consisting of four units, each with a basement suite, the Richmond Fourplex prioritizes spacious, light-filled interiors, utilizing large west-facing windows to maximize natural light, creating inviting living spaces. Recognising the importance of privacy in multi-family housing, the design includes private above-grade rear patios, sunken patios, and detached garages for each unit.

We employed a stepped design, adapting to the slope and forming a visually appealing, slope-adaptive building to address the challenge of creating a spacious rowhouse on a steep site. The innovative use of the garage as a retaining wall reduces the need for additional structures between the houses, resulting in a well-massed building that accommodates 4 livable homes and 4 generously spaced basement suites.

Keep your eyes peeled for this mountain-inspired building next time you're visiting the community of Richmond! For more information on this project, click the button below.

Crescent Heights Commercial Completion

Construction has been completed on this two-storey commercial building we designed for 1105 Edmonton Trail NE in Calgary’s Crescent Heights neighbourhood. As more of Edmonton Trail matures into a commercial main street, the owners of this residential property saw the opportunity to capitalize on this change. This modest commercial building now provides nearly 5,900 SF of office space on two floors. It is wood frame, and clad clad in durable yet stylish Hardie panelling and pre-finished corrugated steel siding. The upper floor massing is broken into two principal elements, and either projects or recedes from the main floor. The projection on the north facade protects the walkway that runs parallel to the adjacent lane.

We’re excited to continue our contribution to the ongoing redevelopment of Edmonton Trail by helping bring this modest commercial building to the the community of Crescent Heights.

Thanks go to Bryce Baker at Clasual for the photography of the completed project!

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Meredith at Edmonton Trail Construction Update

This summer has seen the project we designed on Meredith at Edmonton Trail start to take it’s final form.

The original building on this site was addressed to Meredith Road, however the main entrance for the new building faces east, so the new address is 63 Edmonton Trail NE.

As a mixed use building, the structure is a combination of reinforced concrete and wood frame. The uppermost concrete floor is the second floor, creating a fire rated assembly between the retail and residential uses. The third floor and roof are wood frame. With the framing complete earlier in the year, and most of the upper floor windows in place, the cladding is currently being installed. In these construction images taken by Bryce Baker, the playful wave of variegated metal panels is taking shape.

Learn more about this project.

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Mission Flats June 2023 Construction Update

Advent’s five-storey Mission Flats multi-residential in Calgary’s Mission neighbourhood has been fully framed and the installation of membranes and cladding are underway!⁠

This five-storey residential development was designed by Gravity for NAI Advent. The contractor, Trimount, has completed the framing and roofing, has installed the windows, and is currently working on the interior and exterior finishes.

The building contains 67 residential units, including 11 garden suites, above a two-storey underground parkade. Parking is accessed from the lane to ensure an uninterrupted pedestrian environment along the stately, tree-lined street the building faces. This apartment-style condominium building was designed to fit in with the neighbouring modernist brick apartment blocks by borrowing both their brick materiality and symmetrical aesthetic. In a more traditional gesture, the roof playfully floats over the top floor.

We asked Bryce Baker to take these new images of construction progress. Learn more about this project.

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Sage Walk Towns DP Approval

We are excited to announce that the development permit for the Logel Sage Hill townhouse development in the northwest community of Sage Hill has been approved! This project was design by Gravity for Logel Homes and features 52, three-storey townhomes across ten buildings. The exteriors are clad with a combination of James Hardie panels and TrueGrain Series siding. We designed the homes to each be identifiable through the massing of the building.

pLAnt Studio designed the landscaping including the private and common outdoor amenity space. The common space is defined by a central pergola. The majority of the units have private fenced-in patios, and all of the units have their own balconies. Because these balconies are inset into the buildings, residents have private outdoor spaces.

The grading of this parcel provided the opportunity to create two distinct entry styles. One entry is lowered and is below the level of the garage entry. The other is more like a split level, where the entry is elevated at a landing between the garage and main living levels. The floor plans have been designed with three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms and a flex space that could be used as an additional bedroom. Homeowners will have the option to upgrade the bedroom level to a two-bedroom, two-suited bathroom layout.

A public pathway was coordinated to connect the City's sidewalks in the community to the north with the adjacent environmental reserve pathway that runs along the west property line.

Find out more about this development here.

Shaganappi Multi DP Submitted!

Shaganappi Multi is a 99-home project with high visibility from Bow Trail SW, close proximity to Shaganappi Point LRT Station, and views to the Shaganappi Point Golf Course. The building form is configured as a ‘C’ to fill the site and maximize the number of units along the perimeter of a double-loaded corridor. Its industrial cladding materials respond to the high vehicular traffic flowing past this site while warmer wood tones respond to human-scaled balconies.

Unit identity, facade articulation, and balcony privacy are achieved through a pixelated three-dimensional composition integral to the architectural massing. This hyperarticulation responds to privacy adjacencies; smaller balconies with less glazing are located higher and positioned to reduce overlook into neighbours’ yards.

This articulation also facilitates porosity around building edges to enhance visibility on a corner site. Oversized balconies span the width of entire unit faces to convey porosity and reduce the perception of the building’s six-storey visual mass and roofline. Outdoor amenity spaces and landscaping are situated to provide enjoyment for the residents while also acting as a buffer to adjacent residences.

This development has been submitted for its development permit, and construction is expected to start later in the year.

You can find out more on our project page or on Calgary’s DMAP page.