Beginning in 2022, CCMPA and The Masonry Council of Ontario partnered up to investigate the viability of concrete block and brick in the Passive House Standard. In order to deliver an unbiased, objective research outcome, we engaged Hania Shebab, a bright M.Arch student from the University of Waterloo who is self-declared as material agnostic. We chose a piece of property in midtown Toronto, Ontario to simulate current, real-world challenges for architects and designers who are working within a condensed urban world. We pulled together a wide variety of subject matter experts from all fields and the design that Hania landed on is spectacular. Not only does the design fit right into the geographic landscape, but it is also a multi-functional single family, detached home that proves masonry inherently supports sustainable building standards. We are very pleased with the finished paper, and the design is impressive as well. As masonry moves forward, we will continue to work to quantify how we can support, drive and maintain sustainable building practices and the drive to net-zero. See the full paper and design attached below.
