1 Of Plan's Director and 1 Scientific Adivsor's CompanyZS2 Technologies that uses Plan's product, is accepted to build a home for SAIT -
May 9, 2022: In February 2022, the Kanaka Bar Indian Band, SAIT, Okanagan College, Foresight Canada and Seko Construction partnered to launch the Kanaka Bar Resilient Housing Challenge, an Innovation Challenge to help the communities of Lytton, BC and Kanaka Bar rebuild sustainably after the devastating wildfires of 2021.
There was an urgent need for ready-to-adopt building innovation to support these communities experiencing the worst impacts of climate change firsthand. In just four months, the Challenge was planned and launched, applications were received and reviewed, and the top solutions were selected for testing and piloting.
Despite the short Challenge application window, the Challenge received nearly 50 unique climate-resilient building technology solutions to help prevent future vulnerability to extreme weather events. These were reviewed by a panel of experts with extensive industry experience. After a rigorous evaluation process, the following companies have been selected to participate in the construction of four pilot houses at Kanaka Bar:
- FORM Innovations: insulated and strong polyurethane concrete form that is highly water and fire resistant
- Artspan: structural insulated steel panels that provide a durable building shell that is mold, fire, and rodent resistant
- ZS2 Technologies: prefabricated, structurally insulated panels that are low carbon and fire resistant
A fourth building solution is currently being reviewed by SAIT, and will be selected in the coming weeks upon completion of the review process.
The winning solutions will be invited to participate in the construction of four pilot housing structures ready for occupancy by September 2022. Upon selection, further testing of products and assemblies may be completed to confirm performance in extreme climatic and fire conditions by SAIT.
The results of this Innovation Challenge offers sustainable new build and retrofitting solutions not only for Kanaka Bar, Lytton, and the surrounding region, but also to all Canadian communities looking to make their homes more resilient to ever-increasing extreme weather events.
“Foresight is pleased to bring our proven, successful Innovation Challenges model to this critical effort. We are excited to see how the winning solutions will be implemented in the rebuilding of these two communities, and hopefully implemented across Canada and the world in the years to come,” says Jeanette Jackson, CEO of Foresight Canada