Canada's Housing Crisis: Challenges & Solutions

Drawing on the design of hundreds of high-performance affordable housing units in recent years, Diamond Schmitt Architects have established a clear, evidence-based pathway to delivering resilient, energy-efficient, and comfortable homes for residents and families.

In the first part of this session, Arne Suraga will present the findings of a comprehensive study commissioned by Ottawa Community Housing. Diamond Schmitt conducted detailed energy modelling and a total cost of ownership analysis on a prototype building, evaluating five distinct energy performance scenarios. The study compares the Total Cost of Building Ownership over a 60-year lifecycle, offering practical insight into how performance targets influence long-term operational costs, capital planning, and asset resilience.

The second part of the presentation will translate strategy into practice. Attendees will explore how high-performance goals are realized through integrated envelope and mechanical systems design, carried through construction documentation, and executed on site. This session will provide property owners, housing providers, and project teams with a practical framework for aligning sustainability ambitions with financial responsibility and long-term building performance.

Arne Suraga

Diamond Schmitt Architects

Throughout his career, Arne has been engaged on projects of truly varied scales: From temporary pavilions through to multi-tower developments, but his attention to detail and design are central to them all. His portfolio of experience includes a broad range of building typologies, from institutional academic facilities and residential projects, through to commercial spaces and installations. Arne joined Diamond Schmitt Architects in 2013, and is currently in the role of Senior Associate. He became a Certified Passive House Designer in 2017. Developing designs with high-performance goals and clear sustainable objectives is a key element of his design ethos, leading him to design buildings that meet the Passive House Standard, Zero Carbon Building and Net Zero Energy in the residential, institutional and academic sectors. He has been a regular presenter at both national and provincial conferences, including being featured in the Globe and Mail for his work on high-performance affordable housing.