Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Mississauga is partnering with Sheridan College architecture students to explore the potential of fourplexes as a solution to the housing crisis. The city plans to explore how fourplexes can provide more housing options without sacrificing the character of existing neighbourhoods.
In a statement, city officials said neighbourhood populations are shrinking while the housing shortage worsens. Downtown Mississauga’s population has grown by double digits, but low-rise neighbourhoods are shrinking, including Applewood, Lorne Park, Rathwood, Lisgar, Creditview, and other communities.
Fourplexes are currently a rarity in Mississauga, with less than a dozen scattered across the city.
Students in the Architectural Technology Program will be given 14 weeks to design fourplexes that fit seamlessly into Mississauga’s existing neighbourhoods.
The project will provide students with real-world experience, utilizing data, critical thinking, and design skills. They will be given approximately 30 locations across Mississauga to work with, imagining the lives of the people who would inhabit the fourplexes and how they might interact with the surrounding community.
The city emphasizes that this initiative is part of its larger effort to diversify housing options and combat exclusionary zoning practices. By promoting gentle density, the city hopes to revitalize older neighbourhoods, support local businesses, and create more walkable communities.
At the end of the program, the students will present their architectural floor plans, sections, and renders. The city will use these visuals to showcase the potential of fourplexes to residents and highlight the benefits of this type of housing.