Scaling Up Delivery of Sustainable, Affordable Housing

There’s a clear need to build housing fast, sustainably, and affordably. However, low-carbon buildings are often blamed for increasing costs in residential construction, implying that sustainability and affordability are not compatible. This workshop illustrates that adopting a systemized, product-based approach to housing can provide elegant, viable solutions to both challenges simultaneously. Explore the potential of prefabricated mass timber and hybrid construction as our diverse panelists showcase their ongoing research and projects.

Tura Cousins Wilson

Tura Cousins Wilson is an architect, educator, and cofounder of the Studio of Contemporary Architecture (SOCA), based in Toronto, Ontario, recipient of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s 2023 Emerging Architectural Practice Award. He is inspired by creating uplifting spaces of beauty and contends that architecture’s power lies in its ability to transform collective imaginations and narratives into reality. He holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from Toronto Metropolitan University, a master’s degree in architecture, urbanism, and building sciences from Delft University of Technology.

David MacMillan

David MacMillan is a Manager in the City of Toronto’s Environment & Climate Division, where he leads a team focused on planning for low-carbon development and energy systems. This includes implementing the Toronto Green Standard, which aims for net zero new buildings by 2028, and renewable energy programs such as SolarTO and Wastewater Energy. MacMillan is currently focused on delivering mass timber affordable housing, and creating online platforms to help energy developers leverage City-owned assets for renewable thermal energy projects. He holds a Master in Environmental Studies (Planning), from York University and is a graduate of the ULI Toronto’s Curtner Urban Leadership Program.

Jonathan Diamond

Jonathan Diamond is a principal at Well Grounded Real Estate, a family-run firm that owns and operates a portfolio of multi-family and retail properties throughout Ontario. With a pivotal role in driving purpose-built rental developments, Diamond showcases a commitment to scalable strategies for building design, development, and execution. Furthermore, he holds a PhD in neuroscience from Queens University. This blend of experience provides him with a distinctive perspective in the industry, merging scientific thought, exploration, and innovation.

Mohcine Sadiq

Mohcine is an internationally-trained architect with an interest in minimalist and modernist design. He is a firm believer in taking a humanistic and holistic approach to the urban and housing crises that cities are currently experiencing. Mohcine’s experience propelled him through a variety of projects ranging in size from large urban and residential developments to public facilities. His primary objective, however, is to design and provide a human-scaled, socially conscious, and sustainable built environment. Mohcine recognized the importance of developing pragmatic methods for reducing the managerial complexity of each project through intelligent and innovative delivery processes as a result of his specialization in BIM Management. Mohcine, who recently relocated to Toronto, hops on his bike to explore the city while hoping to contribute to its transformation.