Winners selected for the District’s Multiplex Design Competition

The District of Squamish is pleased to announce the winners of its Multiplex Design Competition. The competition was launched on September 5, 2024, to help increase the supply of small-scale housing options in Squamish as part of the Squamish Housing Action Plan, funded by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund. The winning designs are now online at squamish.ca/multiplex -design-competition.

“This competition showcases options for property owners who want to take advantage of the new provincial legislation and add important new housing forms that will contribute to the housing supply we need as a community,” says District of Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford. “All submissions have shown a level of thoughtfulness and creativity for each of our unique neighbourhoods, and we are grateful to everyone who took part in the design competition.”

A total of 16 submissions were received with the winning designs selected by members of the District of Squamish Advisory Design Panel who sought to recognize dwelling units that incorporate creativity, sustainability, affordability, and appeal across three design categories – Second Storey Dwellings, Elevated Dwellings, and Ground Level Dwellings.

Residents who wish to build the winning designs on their property will be able to purchase the neighbourhood-tailored plans directly from the architects and design firms listed below. Please note building permit applications will still be required to meet all site-specific requirements as outlined in the Zoning Bylaw, Building Bylaw, Official Community Plan, Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw, Soils Management Bylaw, and Floodplain Management Bylaw.

District of Squamish Multiplex Design Competition Winners:

Category 1: Second Storey Dwellings

1^st Place:
Higher Ground
Haeccity Studio Architecture

2^nd Place:
The Alcove
Paula Alejandro Vazquez, TAG Panels Ltd. 

3rd Place:
Umbel
Sideyard Architecture

Category 2: Elevated Dwellings

1st Place:
The Tusk
Brendan Callander, Callander Architecture

2^nd Place:
Double Double
Haeccity Studio Architecture 

3^rd Place:
Encore
Guy McLintock, McLintock Architecture

Category 3: Ground Level Dwellings

1st Place:
C Plex
Haeccity Studio Architecture

2nd Place:
The Tusk
Brendan Callander, Callander Architecture

3rd Place:
Blended
Paula Alejandro Vazquez, TAG Panels Ltd.

Learn more about the Districts Multiplex Design Competition and view the winning designs here.

About the CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund

The CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund provides incentive funding to local governments encouraging initiatives aimed at increasing housing supply. It also supports the development of complete, low-carbon and climate-resilient communities that are affordable, inclusive, equitable and diverse, and that have the necessary infrastructure to support an increased population.

In January 2024 the District of Squamish was successful in securing a $7M grant from the CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund. The grant is funding an internal team dedicated to increasing housing supply and reducing barriers to build a variety of housing types in Squamish in line with the District’s Housing Action Plan.

December 20, 2024