Rainwater at 339 Veterans (Veterans Drive)

History

A fast-growing city known for its scenic waterfront, diverse economy, and rich Indigenous and colonial history; Barrie has played a significant role in Ontario’s development over the past two centuries. Barrie was named after British naval officer Sir Robert Barrie, the city grew rapidly with the arrival of European settlers, the construction of the Toronto Road in the 1830s, and the railway in 1865. Incorporated as a city in 1959, Barrie expanded further with the development of Highway 400, becoming a thriving residential and commercial hub. Today, it is home to the latest in Sean Mason Homes’ developments, Rainwater at 339 Veterans Drive.

Streamlined by Innovation, Delivered by Sapphire

Currently under construction and due for completion by Spring 2025, Rainwater at 339 Veterans is a landmark project for Sean Mason Homes and Barrie, Ontario, due to their key aspirations. Firstly, to create a development with ease of information access to keep progress smooth. Secondly – keeping the project sustainable without needing to accept trade-offs in 4 Architecture Inc.’s sustainable and artistic vision.

A crucial constraint for the team at Sean Mason Homes has been finding a sustainable solution for connecting balconies to a mass timber, or Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) frame. Traditionally, balconies in Canada have been constructed using concrete slabs, with separate balustrading being attached afterwards. Due to the weight of concrete, the use of concrete slabs is not practical with Cross-Laminated Timber, and their application would also be unsuitable given the unsustainable nature of concrete as a material.

Sapphire Balconies was able to step in, providing Sean Mason Homes & 4 Architecture Inc. with a sustainable, innovative solution. By using lightweight, prefabricated balconies, constructed with renewable aluminum, the balconies were both light enough to connect to a CLT frame but also helped to lower the total carbon emissions of the building, taking significant weight off of the structure. The balconies, connected to the frame using an innovative Tie-Rod connection, used small penetrations into the timber frame to stay securely attached, with minimal deflection.