Shaping the future built environment and developing tomorrow’s leaders, always with a focus on the communities we live and work in.
Our long-term prosperity is directly tied to the health of the communities we engage with. Since BTY’s founding in 1978, the firm’s leadership has embedded Social Responsibility as a core value in how we engage on projects, share our knowledge, further the industry and mentor the next generation.
Innovation and Knowledge for Complete Communities
Given the critical global need to scale affordable housing delivery, BTY is focused on contributing expertise, supporting innovation, and sharing knowledge openly to find new solutions and establish best practice frameworks.
Here are some of our recent initiatives
Urbanarium 2018 The Missing Middle Competition
Vancouver, BC
Urbanarium is a non-profit society formed by local citizens and Vancouver’s leaders in architecture, planning and construction. This year, participants were asked to provide creative solutions which addressed affordability and social health concerns using four real study areas in B.C. The focus on design and social innovations for smart densification required entries to be financially feasible and realistic to construct.
BTY acted as a Technical Advisor in the competition for the jury and supported the evaluation process of 40 entries submitted by professionals in Canada and abroad.
Kingston University Hackathon for UN SDG
United Kingdom
BTY was invited by Kingston University to serve as a reviewer for student submissions to address UN Sustainable Development Goal #11: Making our cities inclusive, safe and resilient. As part of the Hackathon, 50 student teams collaborated on pitching solutions through narrated presentations that were reviewed by industry leaders and were provided feedback on relevancy, innovation and feasibility. The initiative encompasses a network of universities in Europe and Israel, with support from the European Union Erasmus+ programme.
Realizing Mid-Rise and Tall Wood Buildings in
North America
North America
BTY is a pioneer in assessing the costs and benefits of building mid-rise and high-rise wood-frame and wood hybrid structures in the housing and accommodation sectors. We have conducted multiple cost-comparison studies involving wood, concrete and steel construction on a variety of structures and we’re currently providing Cost Management and Lender Services for the growing list of multi-storey wood buildings in North America and Europe.
We provided cost expertise in ground-breaking studies to evaluate the feasibility of wood buildings in British Columbia, including projects such as The Wood Framed Construction Cost Study as well as The Case for Tall Wood Buildings. The firm has also contributed to the Technical Guide for the Design and Construction of Tall Wood Buildings in Canada.
“Does Modular Hold the Key to Unlocking the “Build-to-Rent” Market?”
London, UK
In conducting our research to support the delivery of modular housing in the Build-to-Rent market, BTY compiled insights and lessons learned from industry leaders in London who are at the forefront of affordable housing solutions to achieve economies of scale unrealized previously.
Our report highlights key concerns that are holding back the wider application of modular construction in housing. Read more here.
Supporting Our Local Organizations
As a global corporate citizen, we are committed to supporting and empowering our connections to communities in all the markets we serve. Our team members regularly contribute to and engage with local organizations through fundraising, serving on organizational boards, volunteering, and providing pro bono advisory services on relevant projects.
Here are some of our recent initiatives
BTY’s 40Forward campaign supports Architectural Scholarship Intensive by ArtsUmbrella
Vancouver, BC
Arts Umbrella is a non-profit art school committed to providing quality education programs for young people in the Vancouver community. As part of our 40th anniversary celebrations, BTY’s 40Forward campaign supported the organization in establishing the inaugural Architectural Intensive Scholarship Program for students between the ages of 12 and 16.
The program gave young people hands-on experience using design to create solutions for social good, helping them think about affordable housing and sustainable building. The students were also mentored by some of Vancouver’s leading architects and design visionaries.
Supporting St. Raphael’s Special School with Difference Days
Dublin, Ireland
Working with Difference Days , BTY’s Dublin office volunteered to help on school garden project for St. Raphael’s Special School. Difference Days programs allow companies to give back to the local community in many different ways, including painting a nursing home or building a playground, running a funfair for children with special needs or planting a garden.
Local not-for-profit organizations looking for support can contact us at socialresponsibility@bty.com