Portfolio

The Dr. John M. Perkins Centre was Indwell’s first adaptive-reuse project, transforming a derelict nightclub and rooming house. Its supportive housing model provides home to people leaving temporary or transitional housing and includes a range of onsite supports and tenant amenities. The project added a third floor above the existing structure, creating a ground-floor community development center with capacity for up to 250, group meeting rooms, a community kitchen, and a commercial unit with 46 studio apartments above.

This two-phase project transformed a former knitting mill to create 80 one and two-bedroom affordable apartments in downtown Woodstock, Ontario. Originally built in the early 1900s, it served for many years as the head office and one of five mills operated by Harvey Woods, Woodstock’s largest employer. Flourish’s team oversaw all aspects of the development, including purchasing the derelict site, environmental clean-up, planning, design, and construction project management. The housing program provides permanent housing at rents reflecting ODSP rates. Tenants benefit from a stunning facility characterized by natural light, heritage materials of wood and brick, and a three-storey atrium with community kitchen. The project won a Canada Green Building Award in the Existing Building Upgrade category for features including a ground-source heat-pump HVAC system.

Hambleton Hall was converted St. James United Church’s former Sunday School hall into 40 studio and one-bedroom affordable apartments. Opened in 2016 by Indwell, it provides an example for rural communities seeking supportive and affordable housing solutions. Adaptive reuse approaches preserved the historical features valued by the community, while new systems created an energy-efficient and comfortable building meeting the needs of current and future generations of Norfolk residents. Highlights included retaining significant stained-glass windows, repurposing the former chapel as a community amenity room, adding a community kitchen, and creating expansive community gardens surrounding a large pavilion structure.

This new construction project features a six-floor building with 47 one and two-bedroom affordable apartments above commercial office space where Indwell operates its Resource Centre. Architectural highlights include a top-floor tenant sunroom with panoramic views of the Niagara Escrapment, bright hallways flooded with natural light, and 21% barrier-free units. The building’s contemporary design was recognized with an Award of Merit in the 2017 Hamilton Urban Design and Architecture Awards.

This project was the first in which Flourish redeveloped an existing group home into enhanced supportive housing that allowed existing tenants to live with increased independence, health, and wellness. An old group home that was not designed to meet current accessibility requirements was redeveloped into a 34-unit apartment building that included a full commercial kitchen and office space. Blossom Park Apartments were also the second building Flourish developed to Passive House energy efficiency standards.

This project created a modern church facility with affordable housing above it. The church’s programmatic uses meet the needs of a growing congregation, while addressing the affordable housing crisis in a rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood. Flourish provided project management throughout the concept development, congregational and community engagement processes, planning, architectural design, construction, and post-occupancy reporting phases. The results are impressive 60,000 square foot multi-use facility with large-scale community spaces and 45 affordable apartments operated by Indwell. It is also the largest Passive House International-certified (pending) church in North America.

McQuesten Lofts at Parkdale Landing concludes the redevelopment of a former banquet hall and tavern complex in East Hamilton operated by Indwell. The 50-unit project opened in 2020 and was PHIUS-certified in February 2021. The Hamilton Public Library’s Parkdale neighbourhood branch occupies the street-facing commercial unit. Architectural highlights include design features and natural wood materials influenced by Indigenous partners, as the program prioritizes supporting Indigenous tenants who have experienced homelessness. The Passive House approach maximizes energy efficiency, while a large solar PV array generates GHG-free electricity. Spacious balconies on each floor and landscaping that incorporates traditional Indigenous plantings provide a range of outdoor tenant amenity areas.

Roof and plumbing leaks, hazardous electrical wiring, insufficient heating, and rampant drug-trafficking characterized this building when Indwell purchased it in 2014. The project reimagined the existing rooming house as a new permanent housing program model. A complete renovation upgraded all systems, the building envelope, and interior finishes, while a 3,000sf addition added accessibility, community kitchen and dining room, lounge, laundry, and staff offices. The housing program focuses on supporting tenants leaving hospital, shelters, or other situations of homelessness. The building won an Award of Excellence in the 2017 Hamilton Urban Design and Architecture Awards.

The former George and Mary’s Tavern had long outlived its glory days anchoring the hospitality services in its neighbourhood when Indwell purchased the property in 2016. Building on the success of the Perkins Centre tavern redevelopment, Parkdale Landing reinvented the facility to augment the supportive housing at Strathearne Suites in 2018. The 57 studio and one-bedroom homes are complemented by street-facing commercial units. This was the Flourish team’s first foray into leading a Passive House-standard development. While not certified, the project provided invaluable learning experience to the design team and Indwell which has been utilized on subsequent projects. Architectural highlights include a second-floor outdoor tenant terrace, a neighbourhood food hub with full restaurant kitchen and culinary education facilities, and two retail units. The building received a national Green Building Excellence — Inspiring Home Award, presented by the Canada Green Building Council.

Lakeshore Lofts was Flourish’s first project in Mississauga and Indwell’s first program to operate in that city. It features sixty-eight apartments and tenant amenity spaces above commercial space that is home to The Compass in a four-storey building built on the site of a former auto lot. Opened in 2022, the building’s exterior panels and interior paint patterns are inspired by Lake Ontario, the shores of which are just a short walk away. Passive House design maximizes energy efficiency, while a large solar PV array generates GHG-free electricity.

This historic 1911 former stables housed a fleet of horses and wagons used for door-to-door milk delivery until 1965 before Royal Oak Dairy switched to electric delivery trucks. Flourish led Indwell’s 2022 redevelopment of the building into 13 studio apartments, alongside new office space for Sacajawea Non-Profit Housing Inc., and shared community spaces. The building’s name is Ojibway, which can be translated as “Home within our hearts.” Passive House design maximizes energy efficiency in this all-electric building. An exterior mural by renowned Hamilton artist Lester Coloma celebrates the waters of Hamilton and the Indigenous histories that have shaped this site within the broader region.

This new 43-unit apartment building was launched by Indwell in 2022 at The Oaks, a four-building residential community. Its four-storey design echos the historic brickwork of the former Royal Oak Dairy building which stood at this site for 100 years. Three residential floors are situated above a ground-level parking structure. Tenant amenities include a large indoor social room, on-site laundry, a computer lounge, and an outdoor terrace. The parking structure is thermally broken from the residential above through Passive House design strategies. The complex features a unique outdoor courtyard for tenant use and welcoming broader neighbourhood activities in season.

This urban infill project was Flourish’s first new building project in London, Ontario and at the time, also one of its largest projects. This project created 72 new affordable apartments at the former Embassy Hotel site, a once-thriving cultural hub in London’s Old East Village neighbourhood. The new building has returned vibrancy to a prominent corner in this commercial district, having stood vacant for ten years after the Embassy was destroyed by fire. e ground floor includes program related and regional Indwell support staff offices, along with a local restaurant, a bicycle repair shop, and a pharmacy. Resident amenities include two third-floor community rooms with adjacent balconies, laundry, and secure bike and scooter parking. The building was built to Phius standards and features rooftop solar PV.

This modern 52-unit apartment building was opened in 2022 by Indwell at The Oaks, a four-building residential community on the site of the former Royal Oak Dairy. Heartwood Apartments has five floors of apartments above an at-grade parking structure. Tenant amenities include a large indoor social room, on-site laundry, a computer lounge, and two communal outdoor terraces. Phius Passive House energy efficiency enabled this to be an all-electric building, requiring no gas connection. A large roof-mounted solar PV array generates GHG-free electricity.

The former Norfolk Inn was once the entertainment hub in Simcoe, Ontario, but had deteriorated into a home of last resort over years of absentee ownership. Flourish oversaw its complete redevelopment which included adding a third storey to the building structure, re-opening it as 51 permanent, affordable homes in 2022. Highlights include a central community kitchen and tenant gathering hub surrounded by program offices, along with three commercial units. The building was redeveloped using Phius Passive House standards.

Originally built in the 1930s as the Queen’s Hotel, this landmark on Hamilton’s Ottawa Street commercial district fell into vacancy and disrepair following failed property speculations. Flourish led a major renovation, restoring the three-storey building into 12 independent apartments. The commercial frontage was designed for a popular neighbourhood coffee shop which relocated to the building. The building was redeveloped to Phius standards of energy efficiency. Utility services and a replacement stairwell were designed to accommodate a second phase resulting in 45 new affordable apartments on the site.