Transparent construction

The initiative led by the University of Waterloo investigates the long-term consequences of rapid multi-unit residential building (MURB) construction in the Waterloo Region. The roadmap analysis examines 18 MURBs, comprising nine private and nine public buildings constructed across three distinct periods. This comprehensive analysis involves surveying residents, conducting environmental modelling, and holding focus groups to assess the ecological, social, and subjective quality of these buildings. The roadmap highlights the detrimental effects of housing commodification, prioritizing profit over resident well-being, leading to lower-quality construction and increased social alienation. The roadmap addresses these issues by proposing three main outputs: creating new public housing standards for Waterloo-based on residents’ perspectives, integrating the UN’s Housing as a Human Right into Canadian housing standards, and developing a pedagogical framework. This initiative follows a multi-year plan, including team building, case study selection, extensive data collection, and collaboration with municipal partners to implement improved housing standards.