230 Queen Street
CSV was engaged to reimagine this vacant office space as Ottawa’s very first transitional housing designed specifically for asylum seekers and refugees. By offering an alternative to emergency shelters, 230 Queen gives 143 residents a welcoming and comfortable space to begin their journey in Canada, with a goal of rapid-rehousing and integration within six months.
Design Details
This space was designed to meet the unique needs of newcomers, while working within the framework of the existing building. Residents will have access to open concept living areas, shared dining rooms, meeting spaces, daily meals, and on-site supports. Each amenity supports residents’ journey to permanent housing.
The sleeping pod layout adapts the former office’s large open floor plan to provide as many residents as possible with private space. The design also maximizes natural light, ensuring every pod benefits from daylight.
Change In Our Community
This project is part of a growing movement to rethink how we use space in our cities. By converting underused buildings like this one, we are creating affordable and supportive housing faster, and more sustainably. This space offers a welcoming environment that offers much more than a place to sleep, it provides dignity, safety, and community to Ottawa’s Newcomers, while benefiting our community as a whole.
