Strata Engineering is pleased to offer a full Co-op renewal consulting
service, to help residents upgrade and refresh their ageing buildings;
breathing new life into their communities. We are experts in both the technical
and practical aspects of multi-family renewal projects. Partnering with
communities from the contemplation stage through construction, we assess wants
& needs through studies and hands-on community engagement. We create
conscious budgets and technical designs, assisting with grant applications,
engaging residents, overseeing construction, and simplifying the whole process
for the ownership.
A number of co-operative housing complexes are able to determine through
the FCM
Sustainable Affordable Housing Grant which assessments they are
eligible to be funded for. These various assessments determine their
qualification to be funded for grants ranging from building envelope &
parkade restoration, to retrofits for more energy-efficient HVAC systems as
well as windows and doors. These major projects can be some of the most
expensive procedures a co-op will have to face during the course of its life.
The engineering consultant, who will be chosen to oversee and guide the
co-op through these programs play a significant part in assuring it’s a
successful application and completion of restorative work.
Assessment – What
needs to be done?
Reporting to assess the condition of the building and uncover any upcoming
needs the building may have. There are four different types of reports
that can be required:
- Building Condition Assessment – BCA – General,
non-invasive overview of building systems. Used by CHFBC for
financial planning if the Co-op is using them as financial planners - Energy Audit – Co-ops are eligible for a grant of up to
80% on renewal projects through FCM (brochure attached); the energy audit
is the baseline and feasibility review for energy use - Building Envelope Condition Assessment – BECA –
Invasive investigation used to fully define any envelope work that may
need to be done and estimate possible rot damage for budgeting. - Plumbing Investigation – To assess the current
condition of the water distribution system and
We focus on the water distribution and envelope as these are the components
that have usually come to or surpassed the end of their lifespan. Through
evaluating previous work that has been done, properties may or may not require
these. The results of these inspections are presented to co-op members as
a “kick-off” point for work that many residents have been concerned
about.
Design – What exactly
are we going to do?
Based on the above investigations, Strata Engineering will partner with
Co-ops to create detailed engineering designs and specifications for the
upcoming renewal. We will also engage the membership to find out what
their community wants from the renewal, rather than just the needs the
assessments uncover. Through this synergy of wants and needs exploration,
multiple options will be created so that cost savings can be explored without
compromising community desire. The final design will be presented to
members for approval.
Tender – What’s it
going to cost?
Strata Engineering will put the design out to various hand-selected
pre-qualified contractors for pricing and assist the Co-op to select the best
company for the project. The prices from these tenders are used to create a
finalized budget that can be used to seek lending approvals.
Construction – Renew
the Building
Strata Engineering will oversee the quality and
budget for the project in conjunction with co-op board members. Through weekly
quality inspections and documentation of installation, we help assist in
decisions along the way and assure that the final product is up to the
communities expectation
Ready to discuss Housing Grants & Retrofits ?
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