Estítkwawtxw – Brackendale, BC

Estítkwawtxw – Safe Home is a ten-unit family housing complex located in Brackendale, British Columbia. The property is owned and operated by Hiy̓ám̓ Housing Society, the nonprofit housing organization established by Squamish Nation to develop and manage affordable housing for Squamish people.

The building provides three- and four-bedroom homes for families and forms part of Hiy̓ám̓ Housing’s broader efforts to expand stable, culturally grounded housing for Squamish Nation members.

As part of a deep energy retrofit, the building’s ventilation strategy was upgraded using LUNOS e²60 Short decentralized heat recovery ventilators. The system consists of 40 individual HRV units (20 paired sets) installed throughout the building. The design intent is to provide two pairs of HRVs in each townhome, delivering balanced ventilation directly within every suite.

Each pair operates in a synchronized regeneration cycle, allowing the ventilators to continuously supply fresh air while recovering heat from the exhaust air stream. By distributing ventilation directly within the suites, the system provides consistent airflow without relying on centralized ductwork.