A complete renewal of LJ Christmas Apartments

About this event

Since 1971, L.J. Christmas Apartments have provided housing to seniors in Coquitlam. In 2023, after the Board of Directors had considered redeveloping the property, the stars aligned for a major retrofit of the 134-unit, ten-storey building. By major, we mean one that will result in a 95% reduction in emissions (mainly through the electrification of heating and domestic hot water systems), a 60% reduction in energy consumption, the addition of cooling, ventilation, 18 residential suites and much more. This is a retrofit project founded on a strong business case and a stack of benefits that are of high value to the occupants, who will all remain in the building while the work is being completed. Like many of the other retrofit projects being supported by the BC Retrofit Accelerator, this retrofit corroborates the feasibility and value of extending the life of buildings while decarbonizing them at the same time. Join ZEBx and the Housing That Connects Us project for a tour of this retrofit in action on June 17, 2026.

We are inviting a range of participants for a unique opportunity for cross-sectoral conversations, this tour will cover the technical details of the retrofit, as well as conversations about the importance of collaboration between the construction team, housing operator and owners when undergoing a retrofit with tenants in place. Participants will have backgrounds in deep energy retrofits, urban planning, design, housing operations and more.

Please note: This event will include walking up stairs and standing for extended periods of time as we tour the building. Washrooms are available on the main floor. All floors of the building are serviced by elevators.

Directions

L.J. Christmas Apartments is located at 560 Austin Ave, Coquitlam. A 13-minute walk from Lougheed Skytrain station, we recommend participants take transit where possible. There are no bike racks available at this location.

Please note that there is limited parking due to construction in the area. We will email tour participants more information about parking options before the tour.

About the Housing That Connects Us Project

As cities work to build more multi-unit housing, there is a growing need to balance quick delivery with affordability, climate resilience and social connection. Multi-unit housing plays a key role. Thoughtful policies and design can help strengthen connections with neighbours while simultaneously supporting climate and social resilience. This project was initiated by Hey Neighbour Collective and Happy Cities, and is supported by SFU Renewable Cities.

Join our Community of Leaders!

Do you have an exciting zero emissions or high performance project, product, or concept you’d like to share? Interested in participating in our Program Series as subject matter experts? E-mail events@zeic.ca for more information on how to get involved. Together, we can make the 2020s the decade of zero emission buildings!