The century-old All Saints Anglican Church in Ottawa’s Sandy Hill neighbourhood will soon adjoin a nine-storey condo called The Evergreen.
The historic church is currently home to a restaurant, event space and patio. Owner Leanna Moussa purchased the property with a group of investors and spent two years working with the community to rezone the site for multi-residential housing.
“I had a theory that if I could bring local residents to the table, they would be inspired to support good development,” she says. “We selected Windmill as our development partner because they have a solid reputation for sustainable development and share our vision for the neighbourhood. We did it the right way and the community bought in. This is a major win for Sandy Hill and for Ottawa.”
The residence will be a net-zero operational carbon building and adhere to the global One Planet Living framework. All appliances will be electric and a geothermal exchange system will heat and cool the premises to minimize its carbon footprint. Parking spaces will be electric vehicle-ready, with 1:1 bike parking that includes electrified bike parking. Rainwater will be captured onsite and reused for a 50 per cent reduction in potable water. All paint and flooring will have a lower amount of volatile organic compounds (VOC).
For the design, several elements of the church are folded into the vision that Ottawa-based architecture and interior design firm Linebox Studios imagined for the space. A two-storey portion of the church’s 27-inch-thick limestone wall will be exposed in the building’s lobby, and include a large wall of moss, among other biophilic elements. Salvaged limestone will also be incorporated into the façade and landscaping. The front entrance will feature glass walls to preserve views of the church, as well as coloured stained-glass elements.
“It was important that we complement the church’s architecture without overtaking it,” said Marc-Andre Richer, senior architecture technologist and partner at Linebox Studios. “Sandy Hill is a neighbourhood with a lot of history, and we jumped at the chance to reference its character in a fresh way. The Evergreen will be a modern classic in Sandy Hill.”
The exterior will reference Sandy Hill’s Victorian-era Queen Anne Revival style, while blending with the church. The podium level will comprise brick, to align with the surrounding homes, while the champagne colour of the tower element’s metal panels will pay homage to the church’s limestone. The architecture on the north façade will take cues from the church’s buttressing, as will the arrangement of windows.
The suite mix will fit young families, seniors and young professionals. Large, premium penthouses are located throughout, with a row of ground-level units that incorporate mezzanines.
All suites will have hardwood floors, counter-depth appliances, waste-reducing water systems, and come equipped with a digital concierge system, which allows owners to control the thermostat, open the garage doors, book amenities and receive mail delivery notifications.
The lobby’s biophilic theme will flow into the suites through soft tones and warm wood finishes. Levels four through nine of the building will include private balconies and terraces. The common rooftop terrace will feature a generous patio, private dining areas, and all-electric BBQs. The ground-floor amenities include a lounge and co-working space, as well as an outdoor common amenity terrace off the lobby.
Jeremy Reeds, president of Windmill, said the condo will embody innovative sustainable design and architecture principles. “And when I say ‘sustainable’ I don’t just mean green building — I also mean socially sustainable,” he added. “The Evergreen will enable future residents to sustain busy social lives, meet new people and support each other as neighbours.”
