Dream LeBreton

Dream LeBreton is a transformative housing development in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. The project has been designed for a world in which the connections between sustainability and social equity have never been more apparent. It’s on target to be one of Canada’s largest communities meeting LEED Gold for both New Construction and Neighbourhood Development and certification under CAGBC Zero Carbon Building Standard Design & Performance. With performance three times better than a typical residential high-rise and applying One Planet Living principals, Dream LeBreton will reduce waste, use sustainable, non-toxic regionally sourced materials; and dedicate 50+% of retail space to small, local, and/or ethical businesses. Sustainability and social equity are inherently connected. With a goal of addressing the short supply of affordable housing in the region, the project designates 41% of its 600 units as affordable, offered at below-market rents. Groups that are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis will be prioritized in the strategy. This includes indigenous peoples, veterans, new immigrants and refugees, adults with cognitive disabilities, and woman and children. Of these units, 10% are 3-bedrooms to better suit families, and all units are distributed throughout the vertical community, undifferentiated from market housing. Additionally, 31% of the residential units and all the amenity spaces are designed as universally accessible. In combination, these strategies contribute to creating a truly diverse, dignified, and inclusive community. Key objectives for this project include: 1. Honouring Cultural and Natural History: In collaboration with Indigenous architects, Two Row Architect and consultants Innovation 7, the design and programming honours its pre-settlement history as a point of connection and trade between the host Algonquin Nation, Haudenosaunee, and Huronne-Wendat Peoples. The exterior design of the building responds to the historic landscape and pays homage to the Algonquin people and the physical qualities of the land. The podium is evocative of the escarpment featuring organic forms and the custom-coloured plate aluminum cladding of the tower alludes to the Gatineau Hills in autumn. As well, sustainability and stewardship are core traditional values in Indigenous communities. 2. Connecting to the City and the Region: The community will be defined by intimate, pedestrian-oriented streets and emphasize biking culture with a workshop and bike storage, as part of an active community mobility strategy. Furthermore, Dream LeBreton aspires to build a much broader community. The project’s public realm links the neighbourhood with an LRT station, connecting residents to the wider city and region without needing access to a car. 3. Building Community Across Scales: Individual household units aggregate to form “blocks” within the project which are supported and defined by indoor and outdoor amenity spaces. Outdoor spaces are created through a series of terraces to grow food, gather, and dine. Internally, amenity spaces are centrally located, providing easy access to all residences on the floor but also through the building. Indoor childcare and children’s spaces, homework rooms, co-working lounges, community kitchens, bike storage and repair workshop, and fitness areas seek to support the diverse needs of residents.