The Peak
project Overview
Located in Vancouver, The Peak is a six-storey, mixed-use development that brings together much-needed rental housing and ambitious high-performance building design. Developed by Peak Real Estate Group, designed by Cornerstone Architecture and built by Edge Construction, the 55,362 sq. ft. wood-frame development provides 52 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom rental homes above ground-floor commercial space.
quick facts
Vancouver, British Columbia
Passive House
Low + High Rise Housing
PHI Certified
LEED® Gold
Passive House Certified
The Peak is certified to the international Passive House standard and has also achieved LEED® Gold certification. The project was supported through BC Housing’s HousingHub program, helping deliver rental homes intended for middle-income households while demonstrating that affordability, energy efficiency and occupant comfort can be pursued together.
A High-Performance Building Envelope
Passive House performance begins with dramatically reducing the energy required to heat and cool a building. At The Peak, that meant creating a highly insulated, airtight building enclosure and carefully coordinating the windows, doors, ventilation, mechanical systems and solar-control strategies.
Innotech manufactured and supplied PHI-certified Defender 88PH+ Pro windows and doors for the residential suites, along with PHI-certified storefront windows and doors with an aluminum-clad exterior finish for the commercial spaces. During construction, the building achieved a mid-construction blower-door test result of 0.42 ACH50, demonstrating the level of airtightness achieved by the project team before construction was complete.
The building’s passive house certification means it will consume up to 90% less heating and cooling energy than conventional buildings, dramatically reducing operating costs and aligning with long-term goals under the CleanBC Plan.”
– BC housing
Designed for Comfort, Efficiency + Fresh Air
For residents, the benefits of high-performance design are experienced every day. Triple-glazed windows, an insulated and airtight enclosure, and heat-recovery ventilation work together to support stable indoor temperatures, reduced heating and cooling demand, fresh filtered air and a quieter indoor environment.
Solar Control by Design
One of the more interesting aspects of The Peak is that solar control is integrated into both the architecture and the fenestration strategy.
Cornerstone Architecture designed long balconies that serve a dual purpose: they help visually break down the scale of the six-storey building while also providing passive shading, particularly on the south and west exposures. Where windows are not protected by balconies or overhangs, automated exterior shades by MHZ North America provide additional solar control to help reduce summertime overheating.
A Project Built to Share Knowledge
The Peak also became a learning opportunity for Vancouver’s high-performance building community. In June 2022, HAVAN hosted a sold-out Technical Tailgate at the project, where Cornerstone Architecture, Edge Construction, Innotech and other project partners shared lessons on Passive House design, energy modelling, airtightness, thermal bridging, ventilation, solar shading and fenestration.
Photography by The White Space Co.
Tilt + Turn Windows
The Peak’s Defender 88PH+ Pro tilt and turn windows combine Passive House-level thermal performance with simple, flexible operation. One handle provides two opening positions: the sash can tilt inward from the top for controlled ventilation or swing inward for increased airflow and convenient access to the exterior glass for cleaning.
Tilt + Turn Doors
PHI-certified Tilt + Turn doors extend the same performance principles to the private patios. In the tilt position, the top of the door opens inward for controlled ventilation while the sash remains largely closed. In the turn position, the door swings inward to provide full access to the patio.
