Southlands Attainable Housing

The City of Medicine Hat, via an RFP, required new attainable housing to be provided within the city limits. Two buildings fit on the site, each with 16 units, four of which are barrier free, four adaptable, and eight "regular". Four are studio apartments, while the rest are one-bedrooms. All the main floor units are either wheelchair accessible or adaptable in order to fully integrate low income residents into the community.

The design for each building, in relation to the site context, resembles duplex accommodation in scale, form, site layout and materials. There is a connecting link at main floor providing amenity accommodation (small laundry, rental office, mechanical room, and lounge area). Additionally, the main floor suites feature semi-private patios connected with a central corridor, feature private balconies, and offer access to the sidewalk. On the second floor the units also share a public balcony that overlooks the adjacent roadway. In the rear of the property a parking lot and playground structure is located for residents to use.

After the construction of the first building, it was decided that the second building would be built to LEED standards. The apartment building is one of the few silver LEED certified buildings in Medicine Hat, and the first LEED certified affordable housing project in Southern Alberta.