Sharing Common Ground: Land and Values

University District’s first two chosen builder partners — Brookfield Residential and Truman— are working from common ground literally and figuratively.

Both are taking to the drafting table where University District development plans take form, these expert residential community developers acknowledge that beyond the land, it’s their shared values that will see the community come together like no other.

Here representatives of each reflect on what matters beyond sight lines and street signs! Both care deeply about the importance of place and sustainability in the city they love. Gisele Danis, Brookfield Residential VP of Marketing and Communications and Oliver Trutina, VP of Truman are queried Proust-style.

Placemaking – creating human connections through community assets: health, happiness and wellbeing!

“Brookfield thrives on creating human connections and improving people’s quality of life through thoughtfully designed communities,” says Danis.

University District will deliver …. through its design, rigorous planning, choices of retail and amenities and allows residents walkable access to work, live and play all within the community.

“I believe that it will be a prime example of Canadian placemaking. Imagine living in a place where when people talk about their home they will be able to tell people from all over the globe:

“I live right beside the Olympic oval,” Trutina adds. “Community and place-making are one of the most important things we can do in cities to further not only our infrastructure but our cultural evolution.”

Sustainability

University District is awarded the highest certification achievable by the Canada Green Building Council. By the time it’s complete it will earn a Platinum Certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighbourhood Development (LEED-ND).

According the Globe and Mail’s September 2016 feature on University District, that’s the highest level of sustainability excellence across a wide range of metrics including energy and water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and recycling as well as community health, connectivity and walkability.

“Very few developers have such a focus on sustainability, but this development has thought about keeping the community green in several facets, which adds to the beauty. With a network of pathways and an abundance of local amenities and businesses nearby, residents can walk and bike to everything they need without relying on a vehicle,” explains Danis.

Home is where the heart is

“Over time, University District will become a new central hub for Calgary, providing people with a healthier way to live, engage and enjoy life in one of the greatest cities in Canada,” says Danis.