Innovating for maximum impact: New affordable housing complex adds 83 net-zero units using shipping container model in Fort Saskatchewan, AB

With a mandate to operate affordable housing in the municipalities of Fort Saskatchewan and Strathcona near Edmonton, Heartland Housing Foundation (HHF) already manages two affordable housing complexes, four seniors’ lodges, and five rent-geared-to-income self-contained seniors’ apartment buildings. The new structure in Sherridon will feature photovoltaic solar arrays on the roof and parkade, a high-performance building envelope, high-performance windows, efficient lighting, a heat pump and heat recovery systems. All the units meet SAH’s affordability target, 80 percent of them fall below the median market rate for Edmonton rentals, and 24 percent are more deeply affordable, targeting participants in Alberta’s Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program.   

The project is HHF’s first foray into net-zero construction. The modular building design combines shipping container construction on the building’s ground floor with standard wood construction on the upper floors. It also incorporates cost-saving measures to maximize affordability, such as basic finishes, no common amenity rooms, and reduced electrical costs due to the net-zero design. The design is so innovative that it was selected as a co-investment opportunity by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. 

On top of the social support of providing affordable housing, HHF is working with other local organizations—including the Robin Hood Association, the provincial Family and Community Supports program, and the Families First Society—to deliver a wider mix of social benefits. For example, the Robin Hood Association, with a mission to help individuals with disabilities experience quality lifestyles, has committed to filling a portion of the project’s units and providing ongoing support to those residents.  

Beyond the specific building, the modular concept for Sherridon has a very good chance of being applied to other projects, neighbourhoods, and communities. Modular construction is meant to scale quickly, making it easy to build and assemble new units once a design is tested and proven. HHF will share the comprehensive development model behind the project with other non-profits and is also committed to the local knowledge-sharing and talent development that will build local capacity for future net-zero projects.