The YWCA is expanding downtown with their new YWCA Elm Centre. The colourful regionalArchitects and Hilditch Architect designed building is located at 87 Elm Street (Elm and Edward Street). The largest affordable housing project to be built in more than a decade, it will rise 17 storeys and contain 300 units. When it opens in 2011 it will be a new home to women escaping poverty, family violence, mental health issues and addiction. It will also offer hope to aboriginals struggling in the inner city. The $80 million project is environmental friendly featuring green roofs, energy efficient solution including one of the largest geothermal cooling and heating facilities in North America.

The two-tone blue cladding on the Elm St YWCA. Photo by jasonzed.

Did we say it adds some new colour to downtown?