Jack MacDonald Apartments

This eight-storey, 60-unit development for Hamilton East Kiwanis Non-Profit Homes Inc. was designed to bring dignified, welcoming, and affordable housing to the community. The building offers a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units to accommodate a diverse range of household sizes and needs.

Amenity spaces include a move-in room, general-purpose room, laundry room, and resident storage. These spaces were intentionally located to encourage casual interaction and social connection. These shared spaces help build a supportive residential culture while remaining highly functional for the day-to-day needs of tenants.

A designated floor, developed in partnership with Choices Association Inc., provides dedicated programming and support for adults with developmental disabilities. This integration of supportive services within the larger community reinforces the building’s role as a place of inclusion and long-term wellbeing.

During design, an emphasis was placed on decisions which enhanced livability for residents, while also helping to balance operational needs. For example, unit layouts are efficient yet compact, helping to reduce overall construction costs. Unit orientations strategically maximize daylight to allow for passive heating and cooling strategies that improve resident comfort, while helping control utility expenses over the life of the building. The development demonstrates a thoughtful, integrated approach to affordability and sustainability, resulting in a resilient and welcoming place for residents to call home. While no formal sustainability certifications were pursued, the building is ""Passive House Inspired"", having met several of the program's performance metrics. This includes a high-performance building envelope design, triple pane windows, enhanced R-Values on walls, and roof, limited use of natural gas, “right-sizing” of spaces, and a VRF mechanical system.