North Okanagan Housing Design Competition

Are you expecting each team to provide the anticipated total cost and $/sq.ft? If yes, how do you anticipate we do that accurately, accounting for both material cost and labor.  And how will you verify that each team's numbers are accurate and consistent?

Answer:

Yes, we are looking for the total cost of construction from start to finish.  The goal is affordability, so the design's materials and simplicity will obviously dictate the costs to a large degree, but we do need the labor included.  We do have a building inspector as one of the jurors whose role here at the office is reviewing plans and construction costs, so he is very familiar with the current market, and if he feels a submission is not accurate, we will go back to that designer to get a better breakdown of what they are proposing.

March 20^th, 2023 at 11:59 pm (PST).

Based on the materials identified, we are looking for a total construction cost (per sq./ft.).  We do have a building inspector on the jury panel who will be verifying costs within reason.  The goal is affordable designs; the breakdown in points will be 20 for the initial cost to construct and 5 points for the ongoing maintenance costs.     

Yes, you can enter as many submissions as you like in both categories.

Any Canadian person or company is invited to compete. Plans must meet BC Building Codes and the design parameters. Participants are also welcome to submit for both of the categories.

• The aim of the competition is to create affordable Secondary Dwellings and it is generally expected that construction costs of a 968 square ft.  Secondary Dwelling in the North Okanagan average $200-$250 per square foot.
• Each community will have slightly different setback requirements for locating the Secondary Dwelling but in terms of size and maximum height, here are the requirements for the two competition categories:

One Storey Secondary Dwelling:

Two Storey Secondary Dwelling:

Find all of the details in the Terms of Reference

The Design Evaluation Criteria is as follows (50 points):

• Design ( 10 points)- high-quality, attractive and practical.  The design will fit as wide or a range of contexts and neighbourhoods as possible.
• Good home, good neighbour (10 points)- successful designs will be appreciated by both neighbours and occupants, they will have street appeal and afford privacy to both occupants and adjacent neighbours. 
• Affordability (25 points)- in their use of materials, successful designs will strike a balance between affordability and sustainability that will be attractive to property owners.  The ongoing costs of maintenance must also be taken into consideration. 
• Flexibility and longevity (5 points)- adaptable to and replicable across a variety of lots, neighbourhoods, lot configurations, and topographies.  
• Eco-Design (5 bonus points)- green materials are used where appropriate and maximum possible energy efficiency is achieved. 

On properties zoned for a secondary dwelling within the communities of the City of Armstrong, City of Enderby, Village of Lumby, Township of Spallumcheen, City of Vernon, and the Five Electoral Areas, B, C, D, E, F.   

Yes 

Yes, winning designs will be awarded prize money and a $1,000 royalty each time the design and plans are purchased. 

This out-of-the-box idea was included as an action item in the North Okanagan Regional Affordable Housing Strategy and similar competitions have been held in the City of Nelson, City of Kelowna, and the City of Edmonton with great success. 

The goal is to have the plans available for purchase by the end of May 2023. 

Yes, the designs for both one and two-storey categories should fit within both an urban and rural context.

No, the total floor area for the one-storey and two-storey Secondary Dwelling categories cannot exceed 90 m² / 968 sq ft