Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, provided an update on progress to date for the Housing Design Catalogue. This new initiative under Canada's Housing Plan will provide standardized designs and reduce the time required for design, approvals, and construction of new housing.
Minister Fraser announced that the first iteration of the catalogue will be launched in December and include up to 50 conceptual designs commissioned by the federal government through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. These designs will include row housing, fourplexes, sixplexes, and accessory dwelling units that builders will be able to use to simplify and speed up the delivery of housing across the country.
- MGA | Michael Green Architecture, who will deliver designs covering the British Columbia region; and,
- LGA Architectural Partners Ltd., who will work with five other teams of regional experts to deliver designs covering the regions of Alberta, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec, the Atlantic, and the North.
In the first iteration of the catalogue, the government will also look to include designs selected through an open submission process, launched today. The Prefabricated Housing Industry Design Submission is inviting industry members to submit existing prefabricated housing designs. It is also seeking information on the current products, capabilities, and technologies in the industry - as well as the role of prefabricated and other innovative homebuilding techniques in speeding up the pace of construction - to support the federal government's work in tackling the housing crisis.
Companies building modular, panelized, and 3D printed houses have until November 6, 2024, to respond to the submission.
In November, the federal government will also launch a competition to source innovative designs for mid-rise buildings that will help inform the next iteration of the catalogue.
The federal government is working with provinces, territories, and municipalities to expedite approvals for standardized designs. Accessing federal dollars under the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund is also conditional on provinces and territories collaborating with the federal government to adopt designs from the Housing Design Catalogue.
To create additional efficiencies, the federal government is also integrating other programs and initiatives with the Housing Design Catalogue.
