This event was presented by UBC Connects at Robson Square in October 2024.
In October 2024, UBC Connects at Robson Square hosted a public forum to explore the transformative potential of allowing single-stair apartment designs to address BC’s housing supply and affordability challenges.
Unlocking Housing Potential convened architects, urban planners, sociologists, and members of the public to examine how recent changes to BC’s building codes can open up new opportunities for creative and innovative building design and foster more inclusive, affordable, and livable communities. This discussion coincided with BC’s groundbreaking adoption of building code changes to permit single-egress apartment buildings up to six storeys—the first such policy shift in Canada.
The panel delved into the broad implications that single-stair design can have on urban density, safety, and community connectivity, and brought to light a topic rarely discussed in public forums: how seemingly simple design changes can lead to far-reaching impacts in the development and livability of communities, including:
- Greater Urban Density: By allowing more units on smaller plots, single-stair exit designs can help to address housing shortages without contributing to urban sprawl.
- Improved Housing Safety: Modern safety technologies, such as fire blocking, sprinklers, and advanced alarm systems, can make single-egress buildings a viable option that meets current safety standards.
- Design for Community-Building: Design features like shared courtyards and cross-ventilation fosters more social engagement and improves living conditions for individuals and families.
- Aging in Place: Single-level layouts within multiplexes provide accessible housing options for seniors, enabling them to remain in their communities as they age.
Conrad Speckert, of LGA Architectural Partners and who has worked closely with BSH researcher Nik Luka to advocate for changes to the national building code, shared insights on how communities can leverage more flexible codes to support “missing middle” housing solutions. He also highlighted how recent changes to the BC Building Code can promote gentle density, making cities more inclusive and adaptable.
A common concern about single-exit design is that it may prioritize aesthetics or smaller building footprints at the expense of safety. Andrew Harmsworth, founding principal at GHL Consultants and a fire safety engineer, reassured the audience gathered at Robson Square that single-stair design can meet—and in some cases exceed—current safety standards. He emphasized that advancements in fire safety technologies over the past several decades have made it possible for single-egress buildings to offer safety comparable to two-egress designs.
Inge Roecker, Associate Professor at UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, advocated for housing models rooted in equity, collaboration, and community. She shared her extensive research findings about the social and environmental benefits of single-stair buildings, underscoring an untapped potential for greater community interaction and sustainable living and filling the widening gap between single-family homes and high rise towers.
Expanding on these socio-cultural implications of housing design, Nathanael Lauster, Associate Professor of Sociology at UBC, shared perspectives on how zoning reforms and building code changes do not just support but, in fact, shape community development. He reminded the audience that housing design is not just a technical matter; it is always a key driver of social structure and urban experience.
For more on this topic, see BSH’s research page on Concerted Action on the Missing Middle: https://bsh.ubc.ca/research/concerted-action-on-the-missing-middle/
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Event Speakers
Conrad Speckert | Intern Architect at LGA Architectural Partners
As part of the CMHC Housing Supply Challenge, Conrad is collaborating with 10 other architects across Canada to develop alternative solutions to the building code requirement for two staircases in small multi-unit residential buildings and has proposed a corresponding change to the National Building Code of Canada. Conrad was also previously a project manager for ‘ReHousing’ – a collaboration with the University of Toronto to visualize gentle density and zoning reform for “missing middle” housing. More of his work can be found at The Second Egress.
Andrew Harmsworth | Founding Principal at GHL Consultants, Ltd. | Member, BC’s Mass Timber Advisory Council
A fire safety engineer with 30 years’ experience in Fire Science and Building Code consulting, including specialized expertise in Building Code requirements and fire science and engineering behind the Code and an active role in fire research and code development.
Inge Roecker | Associate Professor, School of Architecture and Land Architecture, University of British Columbia | Member, UBC Housing and Wellbeing Research Group | Co-Founder, Design for Inclusion (D4i) | Lead, AIR Studio
Inge Roecker’s work focuses on inclusion in architecture, blending lived experience with design, advocate for equitable, innovative housing models, and lead for AIR Studio, an internationally recognized firm focused on sustainability, collaboration, and justice. Her research addresses social issues related to housing and space, and she frequently consults with cities and organizations. Inge is deeply involved in the revitalization of Vancouver’s Chinatown and serves on several related boards.
Nathanael Lauster | Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia | Co-Lead, Metro Vancouver Zoning Project
Nathan’s work focuses on housing, home, households, and urban life, and is the author of the award-winning book The Death and Life of the Single Family House: Lessons from Vancouver on Building a Livable City. In collaboration with Jens von Bergmann, he is investigating how zoning impacts urban development (as part of the Metro Vancouver Zoning Project. He also runs the blog Home: Free Sociology, where he shares insights and reflections on these themes.
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