675 East Broadway Social Housing

Kwayatsut – a word from the Coast Salish language – means to seek one’s power or spiritual journey. It’s the name of the social housing project at 675 East Broadway, a haven for low-income residents and vulnerable youth between the ages of 12 and 24. Programming is influenced by First Nations tradition, fostering a sense of purpose and community.

This building needed to be highly durable, environmentally-sustainable and welcoming to meet the varied needs of its users and the surrounding community. To minimize overshadowing north-facing residences, the design team chose separate six- and eight-storey tower forms.

Fast + Epp developed a cast-in-place concrete structure with flat plates, ductile shear walls and underground parking. The mixed-use residential and commercial building contains 103 units for tenants, and a wide range of social, health, housing, education, employment and life skills services.

The goal for its residents is to move towards more secure housing, greater self-reliance, and appropriate employment.