The federal government says it will launch the first iteration of its housing design catalogue in December.

The catalogue will include up to 50 conceptual designs commissioned by two entities that have been chosen through a request for proposals process. The designs will include row housing, fourplexes, sixplexes, and accessory dwelling units that builders will be able to use to simplify and speed up the delivery of housing across the country.

MGA | Michael Green Architecture will deliver housing designs for British Columbia region, while Toronto’s LGA Architectural Partners will work with five other teams of regional experts to deliver designs across the remainder of the country, and will deliver designs for Ontario using its own resources.

In the first iteration of the catalogue, the government will also look to include designs, including existing prefabricated housing designs, selected through an open submission process.

Companies building modular, panelized, and 3D printed houses have until November 8 to respond to the submission.

In November, the government also plans to launch a competition to source innovative designs for mid-rise buildings that will help inform the next iteration of the catalogue.

“We need to build more homes, faster to end Canada’s housing crisis and ensure that everyone has a safe and affordable place to call their own,” said Housing Minister Sean Fraser. “The Housing Design Catalogue will help get us there by expediting approval processes and building times, and reducing the cost of building.”

As part of the first iteration of the catalogue, conceptual designs will be available in December 2024 and include floor plans, illustrative drawings, and basic information about each of the proposed designs. This will be followed by permit-ready design packages in early 2025, which will include all the necessary drawings, specifications, and documents for how each design will be constructed and perform. The packages will also include detailed construction cost estimates. Regional packages will be fully compliant with building code requirements.