James North mixed-use building one of the most energy efficient in the world

Pastors Dwayne Cline and Paul Havencroft had a simple vision when they decided to move the old Hughson Street Baptist Church to James and Picton streets in 2016: meet as many community needs as possible.

It's safe to say that vision has since been fulfilled - and then some.

Once a dated strip plaza, 500 James St. N. is now home to a growing church and a packed affordable housing complex, both wrapped into a sleek structure that, as of recently, joined the ranks of Canada's most energy efficient buildings.

With a certification this month from Passive House International (PHI) - an approval given to select properties that meet rigorous, ultralow energy criteria - the mixed-use building became the first new build in Hamilton to require 90 per cent less heating and cooling than the conventional standard.

Cline and Havencroft, pastors at the modern James North Baptist Church, said the recognition is a cherry on top of a dream come true - but they're quick to give credit elsewhere.

It was all Indwell's idea," said Havencroft said of the non-profit, Christian supportive housing provider who built the building and manages the affordable units upstairs. They pitched it and made it happen, and we're just thankful to them."

For Graham Cubitt, Indwell's director of project and development, the nod from PHI is an acknowledgment that we achieved our intentions," which were to build a hyperefficient building that's cost effective and environmentally friendly.

The passive house design, first developed in Germany, cancels out carbon emissions by way of no gas heating, in turn using 80 to 90 per cent less energy than a normal building. The real key things are hidden in the walls," said Cubitt, referencing the heavy insulation that envelops the building. That insulation protects the structure from thermal exposure." Other not-so-readily visible measures that keep the building green are its windows, he added, which are triple-paned and designed to keep heat inside when it's cool and keep it out when it's warm.

Indwell rents out its 45 units for $550, or about 70 per cent the average rental price in the area. Utility bills for tenants are often around $35 to $40 a month.

If you think about the features in the building, they're all really simple things, but together they go a long way to bringing costs down," said Emma Cubitt, Graham's wife and a principal at Invizij Architects, who built the structure alongside Indwell.

For more information, visit the Invizij Architects website or attend the free building tour Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. Tickets: https://jamesnphopenhouse.eventbrite.ca

Sebastian Bron is a reporter at The Spectator. sbron@thespec.com