Reimagining Apartment Living
By Andrew Papp-Csatari | Based on original reporting by The Globe and Mail. Additional sources cited below.
In a city where family-friendly apartments are scarce, Edmonton is charting an innovative course that could reshape urban housing across Canada. A recent article in The Globe and Mail by Dave LeBlanc, titled “How to build apartments fit for families,” explores the emerging trend of "point-access block" buildings—compact, livable, and family-oriented apartment designs that challenge Canada’s status quo on multi-family development.
The Family Housing Gap
Edmonton Councillor Michael Janz captured the urban family housing dilemma in a nutshell: “Family-friendly apartments are hard to find in Edmonton.” Data supports his concern—just 1 in 13 apartments in the city has more than two bedrooms. This mismatch pushes growing families toward suburban sprawl, limiting their access to urban amenities and forcing difficult choices between space and proximity.
The Architectural Innovation: Point-Access Blocks
The article shines a spotlight on point-access blocks, a building typology common in Europe but rarely seen in North America. Unlike conventional apartments organized along double-loaded corridors with two stairwells, these buildings feature a single stairwell (single-egress) serving up to four units per floor. This design optimizes floor space, enhances natural light and cross-ventilation, and allows for more flexible unit layouts—including multiple-bedroom configurations essential for families.
As Michael Dub of Dub Architects explains, this design “offers a way to provide more living space, bedrooms, and larger units on smaller lots,” making family housing more feasible within urban boundaries.
Regulatory Barriers—and Breakthroughs
A central hurdle in implementing point-access blocks has been fire code compliance. Both the National Building Code and Alberta Building Code generally require two stairwells for buildings above two storeys. However, Edmonton’s new Point Access Block Guide, released in February 2024, offers a structured path for alternative solutions that meet or exceed code safety standards.
These include:
Automated fire suppression (sprinkler) systems
Enhanced smoke management
Professional fire safety analysis
The city’s innovative approach is already encouraging developers to explore denser, more livable, and affordable options within Edmonton’s newly reformed zoning bylaws, which allow three-storey apartments "as-of-right" in residential zones.
A Model for Canada—and Beyond?
Edmonton is not alone in recognizing the need for change. British Columbia's 2024 Building Code update has also embraced single-egress buildings for family housing. And a working group in Alberta is now considering province-wide changes to building codes, aiming to streamline adoption of proven solutions like Edmonton’s.
Scott Fash, CEO of BILD Alberta, underscored the importance of scalability: “If you’ve already got something that’s been worked through, let’s then make a code change so other jurisdictions don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”
Lessons from Abroad
Globally, cities like Berlin, Copenhagen, and Paris have long embraced apartment living for families by supporting generous unit sizes and layouts that emphasize light, air, and accessibility. These cities offer ample case studies for Canadian planners seeking to encourage “gentle density” without compromising livability.
According to Second Egress, an advocacy organization focused on better building design, many international jurisdictions have demonstrated that single-egress buildings can be as safe—if not safer—than conventional layouts when paired with modern fire suppression technology and thoughtful design.
Supporting Research
A 2023 report by BC’s Housing Ministry found that relaxing egress rules to permit single-stair apartment buildings could improve housing affordability by up to 15% per square foot on small infill lots. Similarly, a study by the Canadian Urban Institute highlighted how flexible zoning and
were crucial to densifying urban cores while maintaining a high quality of life.
Conclusion
Edmonton’s Point Access Block initiative is not a silver bullet for Canada’s housing crisis, but it represents a bold, replicable solution. It strikes a balance between density, affordability, and livability—precisely what’s needed in Canadian cities struggling to retain families within urban cores.
As Janz aptly put it: “This is not going to fix the housing crisis… but the absence of it is not helping anyone.” If successful, Edmonton’s model may become a blueprint for cities nationwide—and a catalyst for national building code reform that finally brings apartment living into the 21st century for Canadian families.
Credits:
Original reporting by Dave LeBlanc, The Globe and Mail: How to build apartments fit for families - The Globe and Mail
Additional sources:
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