Project description
Rowdium seeks to revitalize Toronto's aging modern tower neighborhoods, which are one of our greatest urban resources. They were built with
the promise of a high quality of life, transforming the region during the post-war boom. But with over 1000 of these towers in the greater
Toronto Area, they are now starting to show their age, and are becoming inefficient consumers of energy. By adding family rowhouses, two
storey family units, retail, daycare, and community services to these neighborhoods, these concrete tower neighborhoods have the ability to
adapt to current housing needs, have the needed space for amenities, contain dense enough populations to support vibrant life and public transit, and can last for several more generations. Rowdium offers the promise of sustainable neighborhoods, a housing mix for all stages of life, and an empowered local community.
Innovation and transferability - Progress
Truly sustainable neighborhoods are not just clusters of efficient buildings, they are communities that promote social, economic, cultural, and
ecological health, of which residents are proud to call home. So far, this has not been achieved in most tower neighborhoods in Toronto. If given
the proper tools, these neighborhoods have the potential to become complete communities, enabling sustainable cities, and a high quality of life.
Ethical standards and social equity - People
Turning apartment neighborhoods into hubs for the community will make that community stronger through local job creation, enhanced
availability of local food and services, safety, and expanded outdoor recreation space.
Apartment neighborhoods could be transformed into truly self sufficient urban villages. Reconsidered as hubs, and incorporated with community services, gathering and recreation space, new retail and housing; these neighborhoods could evolve into vibrant nodes servicing the resident community and city at large.
A variety of different housing types integrated into existing buildings, can be arranged in a manner that defines private space.
Environmental quality and resource efficiency - Planet
Inefficient energy use in existing concrete towers in Toronto is delivering massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Using
recladding and retrofitting, demand for heating and cooling can be reduced in these buildings by 50%. Due to their straightforward construction
and abundant open space, these aging apartments are highly suited for green retrofits that will provide a significant reduction in carbon output.
Apartment neighborhoods provide a critical mass of residents to make district energy feasible, such as geothermal, wind turbines, and solar.
Techniques such as these could drastically reduce the ecological footprint of these buildings.
Economic performance and compatibility - Prosperity
Adding on to existing towers and Installing energy efficient retrofits will allow property owners to enjoy decreased energy cost, allowing them to
keep rents affordable while the buildings are being upgraded. The most sustainable and efficient building is one that is already built. By avoiding
demolition and rebuilding, the community can be served at a fraction of the cost of building new.
Contextual and aesthetic impact - Proficiency
Straightforward upgrades such as thermal over-cladding will cut energy use significantly. But additionally, an over-cladding process offers the
opportunity to update building appearance, creating unique and attractive neighborhood landmarks.
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