Canaan Parish – Rebuilding a Community with Affordable, Efficient Homes

The redevelopment of Canaan Parish brings 100 new affordable, comfortable, and energy-efficient apartments to a neighborhood of New Canaan, CT, located less than a mile from the town center.

The project team came together to design and build a community that would support its low-income residents with energy-efficient units resulting in low energy bills; modern and comfortable apartments; optimal indoor air quality to protect occupant wellbeing; and spaces to promote a strong community feel including an indoor amenity space, outdoor gardens, and playscapes.

Existing residents were brought into the design process through a survey about what they hoped to see incorporated into their new homes, and private outdoor spaces were widely requested. The project team responded by designing each apartment on floors 1 through 3 to include a patio or balcony.

Our Work

SWA guided the project team in choosing energy-efficient design measures through energy modeling. The installation of the modeled items was then verified in the field for quality assurance. The apartments were tested for air tightness, duct leakage, and ventilation to ensure occupant comfort.

Features & Technology

• High-performance, air-tight thermal envelope constructed using zip sheathing with R-9 continuous insulation to reduce thermal bridging and R-21 fiberglass batts
• Windows with an average U-value of 0.28 and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.32 for temperature control and to maintain occupant comfort
• In-unit HVAC systems include a split air conditioning system with SEER 15 and an instant gas boiler with annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 95% serving the domestic hot water and heating system through DX coil. These efficient systems will drastically reduce occupants’ energy bills.
• Low-emitting finishes, including zero-VOC paint and low-emitting composite wood products, to maintain optimal indoor air quality
• Special consideration was given to how maintenance staff will keep the building’s systems running at their highest performance. For example, mechanical rooms open to the hallways, allowing staff to change filters and work on HVAC system maintenance without disturbing residents.