CALGARY, AB
Mount Pleasant Attainable Housing
A development of the Attainable Home Ownership Program (AHOP), the Mount Pleasant Attainable Housing project is a major affordable residence initiative.
A development of the Attainable Home Ownership Program (AHOP), the Mount Pleasant Attainable Housing project is a major affordable residence initiative.
Providing a total of 34 units spread over previously single-family lots now combined, the development also features an internal courtyard that runs the length between the two linear blocks, balancing independent walk-outs with a communal, outdoor space for residents.
The major lateral resisting system is provided by partition walls between units in the north-south direction, and stairs and shafts along the east and west ends.
A one-storey underground parkade provides a platform for this courtyard and both unit blocks above.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
CLIENT
Paul Steckler, Lexington Developments
ARCHITECT
Sturgess Architecture
OUR ROLE(S)
Structural Engineering Consultant
SIZE
2,778m² (29,902 ft²)
BUDGET
$6.8 M
MARKET (OFFICE)
CALGARY
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
Challenge One
The north and south façades of two linear building blocks have major step-in from the second floor to the first floor, which prevents placement of shear walls or braced frames in the east-west direction.
Solution One
An elevator shaft on the west end, and stair framing at the east, were chosen to behave as a major lateral support system. An in-plane steel bracing system was also introduced to transfer lateral load from the floor diaphragm to the elevator shaft and stair framing. To address weaknesses in tension and shear forces inherent in the wood, a connection of steel in-plane framing into the wood floor was thoroughly developed.