A thousand LEED rental housing units, under the new Exal brand. This is the major project that the firms Construgep and Groupe Mach are planning in the greater Montreal region, with the construction of four new residential complexes.
Active separately, the Construgep and Groupe Mach firms have been multiplying joint projects for a dozen years. In their first partnership, the two companies built energy-efficient affordable housing and made homeownership easier. This time, 1,040 LEED rental units will be distributed across four rental complexes strategically located near train and metro stations in Montreal, Laval and Longueuil.
Stéphane L’Espérance, president of Construgep, is on familiar ground since his company built the first LEED-certified mid-rise residential complex in Quebec, Les Habitations Communautés Loggia, the result of the transformation of the former Bellechasse hospital.
“It was a good school,” underlines the developer with an atypical background, who has his roots in social housing. A former aid worker with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), he first worked on construction sites before returning to school to become an architect.
He also continues to build social housing. Construgep, with Groupe Mach, is currently building 215 units in Pointe-Saint-Charles (NBL Habitation Héritage and Pointe Amicale housing cooperative, with the support of Bâtir son Quartier), aiming for Novoclimat certification.
The two companies are now entering into a new form of partnership.
“We see what’s happening and we have to do something collectively,” says Stéphane L’Espérance, who is thinking about the future of his two grown children. I think that as promoters, we have a social responsibility. Doing LEED is a step forward in reducing greenhouse gases. The entire source of materials is controlled, waste is controlled, energy efficiency is controlled. Managing a construction site is not always easy. You have to make an effort. »
Construgep and Groupe Mach, jointly with Geiger Huot Architectes, are planning the construction of 1,040 rental housing units, distributed in four complexes strategically located in the Montreal region. The first project will be that of the Exal NDG and will start in October, near the Montreal West station (207 rental housing units). This will be followed by the start of construction on the Exal De la Concorde, near De la Concorde station, in Laval, at the beginning of 2024 (268 rental units). Construction of the Exal Longueuil, near the Longueuil–Saint-Hubert station, should begin in spring 2024 (136 rental housing units). The largest complex will be located west of the Assomption metro station, rue Sherbrooke Est. Construction of the Exal Quartier Olympique is expected to begin in fall 2024 (429 rental housing units).
Exal… as in exhilarating, explains Stéphane L’Espérance, who ensures that we offer two accommodations adapted for people with reduced mobility and two adaptable accommodations in each location.
“It’s fun to see developers who embark on the LEED certification process because they are motivated and not because they are obliged,” indicates Emmanuel Cosgrove, general director of the Écohabitation organization, which supports builders. and Quebec developers wishing to obtain LEED certification for homes.
“Construgep and Groupe Mach surround themselves with innovative designers, particularly in mechanical engineering to ensure good air quality, with means that we do not often see,” he explains. They are making an effort to exceed the requirements of the new Régie du logement code in terms of energy efficiency. They also make efforts to reduce water consumption, to manage waste and to fight against heat islands by greening around buildings, but also by casting shade on buildings and planting trees. We notice all kinds of things that are not obvious, but which have a real lasting ecological impact and an impact on health. »
The appeal of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is far from running out of steam, he notes. “Urban multi-unit buildings aiming for LEED certification are increasing in the greater Montreal region, even in Laval. Things are also happening a lot in Outaouais. Motivations vary. Sometimes, especially when they keep buildings to rent them out, developers understand that it can be profitable to have better constructed buildings, which require less maintenance. Other times, promoters just want to do well. They have children and grandchildren and they think about everyone’s future. They have an epiphany and they make great plans. We won’t say no! »
