Canada’s housing system is complex: it is shaped by regulatory, economic, social, and technological forces, all of which are interdependent on one another. There are numerous, diverse actors in this system, from builders, engineers and designers to planners, researchers and non-profit organizations. How can these actors more closely align to address the country’s pressing housing needs? And how can we ensure that emerging best practices in building—such as modular construction and mass timber—are adopted quickly and widely?  

The Best Practices in Building Systems (BPiBS) project is developing a data-driven roadmap that will support strategic coordination across these diverse spheres, while also facilitating the rapid adoption of emerging best practices in building. The roadmap will provide opportunities for scenario testing and ongoing inquiry related to building housing that is inclusive, accessible, sustainable, and resilient. BPiBS is an interdisciplinary, collaborative project led by BC Housing’s Research Centre, with the University of Victoria serving as a key research partner.  

BPiBS is designed to be responsive and dynamic, with a deep commitment to listening: the roadmap will be informed by engagement sessions and workshops with a diverse range of housing and building stakeholders. The project is also developing a database to organize insights about current challenges, future needs, and emerging opportunities in building systems, which will be incorporated into the roadmap. These insights will encompass a wide range of themes in building systems, including health and lifestyle elements, building exteriors and grounds, building forms and structures, water and waste systems, and energy and thermal systems. 

The roadmap’s design will continue to evolve as insights about building systems are collected. Follow our updates here to learn more about the project’s progress and the BPiBS team.

Credit: Makenzie Pratt
BPiBS, BC Housing