Plans

University District Townhomes

Calgary AB

Calgary’s University District showcases a contemporary and thoughtful approach to urban development, anchored by a vibrant mixed-use main street that defines its character. This central corridor features mid-rise buildings with active ground floors, blending retail, dining, and services with residential units above, creating a dynamic and pedestrian-oriented environment. The architecture emphasizes clean lines, durable materials, and a variety of façades that contribute to a lively but cohesive streetscape. Increasingly, the district is expanding its housing diversity with the introduction of more townhouses, offering a lower-scale residential option that integrates well into the overall urban plan. These new additions reflect a growing demand for ground-oriented living while maintaining the district’s commitment to walkability, density, and architectural quality.

Luxuria Development’s University Townhomes at Block 11 are located just north of the University District’s main commercial street. They feature 28 three-storey homes across four seven unit buildings. Each offers approximately 2,000 square feet of developed living space and include private double garages. The main level includes the entry hall, laundry, a full bathroom, and a flex or office space. The second floor features an open-concept kitchen and dining area with access to a private balcony. Upstairs, the third level includes the primary bedroom with ensuite, two secondary bedrooms a full bath and laundry.

The original design anticipated private elevators, and would have pierced each floor plate in the same fixed location, creating a significant constraint. This required each floor plan to incorporate the shaft while still ensuring circulation and access worked seamlessly, all while responding to the overall massing of the front elevation. By rethinking this space, we were able to structure it into functional and convenient areas that now offer residents more flexible living options.

The townhomes align with the University District’s emphasis on a front porch lifestyle, incorporating patios and balconies that face the street to activate the public realm. A key architectural challenge was integrating these balconies into the form of the building, avoiding the appearance of “stuck-on” elements and instead creating a cohesive design.

Siting of the buildings also presented a particular challenge. The east and west orientation of the site naturally demands a east/west building orientation. and as a result, the north and south oriented units provides a high level of activation to the public realm on the north and south facades. To address the streetscapes to the east and west, we introduced additional access points to the end units, enhanced landscaping with public amenity space and provided elevated design elements on these side elevations.

To address the University District's request that this project not mimic the existing surrounding buildings, our team chose darker and moodier exterior tones that still respond the modern aesthetic of the community. We complemented these tones with clad in a palette of high-quality materials, including brick and contemporary metal paneling, delivering a rich and refined finish.

Our client approached us with a vision for the entire block, which includes both these townhomes and Multi-residential project on the south side of the same site.

Data

Developer: Luxuria Developments
Architecture and Renderings: Gravity Architecture
Civil: Richview Engineering Inc.
Landscape: George Harris Collaborative Inc.
Structural/Mechanical/Electrical: Shree Sai Engineering
Energy Modelling: Environmatics Group

Location