Onkwanonhsa-Ezhi-Mina-Giweng Residence

Sacajawea Non-Profit Housing has been a housing provider for Aboriginal households in City of Hamilton for over 25 years. The organization identified an opportunity to obtain the property at 18 West Ave South, Hamilton to develop a low-rise, multi-unit residential building with 23 affordable rental units. Sacajawea selected J.J. McGuire as constructor for the building. 

The three-storey, walk-up building is comprised of one-and two-bedroom units, including four barrier-free units at the ground level, as well as amenity and community spaces. The cost-efficient facility, designed by Two-Row Architects, features cedar-plank and aluminum-siding clad exterior comprised of prefabricated panels with a distinctive overlapping design and custom detailing. Interiors focused on affordable, durable finishes for both the common areas and apartment units. The building incorporates a number of sustainable and energy efficient design approaches, including a rainwater cistern located under the building to capture greywater for use within the sanitary systems.

The building is located on a sloped, constrained site, adjacent to a heritage-designated Church. The site, originally unserviced, was further constrained by high-voltage power lines running adjacent, a public laneway at the rear, and other low-rise and single family residential to the west.

Due to the constraints of the site, J.J. McGuire undertook extensive planning and coordination with the client, authorities having jurisdiction, and surrounding neighbours and residents. Coordination and negotiation with Hydro and the City were also necessary to facilitate staging areas on public laneway, road and traffic access for just-in-time deliveries. Communication with neighbours was vital while shoring was installed to protect nearby buildings located directly on property lines.