Model T
Project
Year
2023
Location
Toronto, Canada
Client
Assemblage Works
The Challenge
Economies of Scale in Toronto's Housing Market
First Forty Feet was hired to test scenarios for creating economies of scale in modular housing by assessing sites in downtown Toronto for their economic feasibility. Tasked with evaluating a range of locations, First Forty Feet focused on identifying optimal sites where modular construction could achieve high density and cost efficiency without exceeding affordability thresholds. This involved analyzing factors like land acquisition costs, zoning regulations, and the logistics of modular stacking, ensuring that each potential site could support high-volume production while integrating well into its urban surroundings. By testing these scenarios, First Forty Feet aimed to balance the promise of rapid, cost-effective modular construction with Toronto’s site-specific challenges, working toward a model that could meet the city's pressing demand for affordable housing.
Site Location & Zoning
The goal is to create a model that can be adapted to any site, providing site specific design responses that allow for programmatic, environmental, and architectural aesthetic variation.
The Impact
Paving the way for Housing Innovation
Providing affordable housing through this modular project in downtown Toronto could have significant positive impacts on the community and the city as a whole. By offering housing at a more accessible price point, the project would help address Toronto’s acute housing shortage, enabling more low- and middle-income residents to live in central, transit-accessible areas where jobs and amenities are concentrated. This increased housing stability fosters a stronger, more diverse community and reduces the strain on public resources, as fewer individuals face housing insecurity or long commutes. Additionally, affordable modular housing could set a precedent for efficient, scalable construction methods, potentially encouraging more cost-effective developments across the city. As a result, the project would not only provide immediate relief to Toronto's housing crisis but also pave the way for innovative, sustainable solutions in urban housing.
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CERTIFICATIONS
Emerging Small Business (ESB)
Certification No.: 13469