In recent years, the Lower Mainland has experienced extreme summer heat and wildfire smoke that put many residents, particularly vulnerable populations, at risk. Most multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) were never designed with these hazards in mind, leaving them unprepared for the realities of a changing climate.

To address this urgent challenge, Focal Engineering collaborated with Westerhoff Climate Strategies and Introba, with guidance from the City of North Vancouver, City of Vancouver, Fraser Health Authority, and Metro Vancouver.

 Our objective

Identify practical retrofit strategies that improve thermal safety while supporting long-term sustainability, and develop policy recommendations to help governments and building owners take action.

Our approach

We focused on “medium-term” solutions that can be implemented within the next five years. Each option was evaluated for its impact on:

• Energy performance
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Housing security
• Return on investment
• Resident health and safety
• Industry peers also contributed valuable input to refine and strengthen the recommendations.

The outcome

The final report outlines retrofit options for buildings as well as a set of policy actions that local governments can take across five priority areas:

• Awareness and understanding
• Policy and legislation
• Funding and financing
• Industry capacity
• Technology adoption

At Focal Engineering, our work goes beyond buildings. We create solutions that protect people, strengthen communities, and prepare our cities for the future.

Read the report here: Thermal Safety in Existing MURB (2025)