more efficient than the national building code dictates. Elevate Living also recently became a Net Zero-certified builder and they are finishing their first Net Zero build now. A related element that all Elevate Living communities have in common is the emphasis they place on landscaping and greenery. Drew emphasizes that company takes pride in always implementing “a very elaborate landscape plan.” “What I mean by that is the amount of trees and the amount of flora and fauna that we introduce into our developments is very important to us,” he explains. “We go above and beyond the minimum requirements. We especially like to include Carolinian and native plant species – and that’s very important, because there are only about 30 per cent of Ontario’s Carolinian forests left so we aim to replenish them in an urban settings wherever possible.” Another point of difference that unifies all Elevate Living developments is the company’s “architectural design guideline.” Unlike a lot of developers, Elevate Living has very specific ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ that relate to design elements such as what materials can be used, where the fenestration is, how the building must be oriented, et cetera. For example, on a corner lot, they mandate that both sides of the house have to be expressed to the street as if they were the front of the house. Those design guidelines ensure consistency of quality among all buildings by Elevate Living. Those guidelines also ensure the durability and longevity of the company’s buildings, as they mandate the use of materials that are long-lasting. Drew acknowledges that those materials are typically more expensive – “a good product you have to pay more for,” Drew concedes, “but what we’ve done is we’ve looked at every aspect of the design, and we’ve made key decisions about where and how to spend our money.” “We’re always thinking about how our choices impact the economic lifespan of our projects,” he says. “We want to make sure that what we’re building, we’re building for the next 100 years.” Lastly, yet one more overarching point of difference is Elevate Living’s commitment to community engagement. On all infill developments, they conduct a very specific public engagement program within the existing neighborhoods. That way, they can make sure their developments will integrate successfully and seamlessly within the broader community context. JANUARY 2024
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTYzNTg=