Reimagining a Calgary church site into a vibrant mixed-use community space!

Earlier this year, our team was invited to participate in a three-firm design competition to explore the future of a prominent mid-century church site in Calgary. With its unique location between a mature residential neighbourhood and a major urban corridor, the site offered an exciting opportunity to imagine its next chapter.

Our feasibility study developed two directions, each adding a multi-story residential building to the site. Both approaches engaged in preserving the mature tree canopy, improving site circulation, and integrating sustainable design strategies.

Study 1: Adaptive Reuse

A design that preserves and revitalizes the existing 1950s church with accessibility upgrades, improved circulation, enhanced natural light, and a new cladding strategy to the church.

Study 2: Comprehensive Redevelopment

A complete redesign featuring a new church and hall, sustainable and dynamic cladding of masonry lattice to diffuse light and privacy, street-oriented commercial space, and an inviting landscape that ties the development together.

More diagrams and renderings are on the way. And later, we will share how this study informed our submission to the UnBuilt Awards.

Click below to read more on this study.

Logel Homes' Sage Hill Towns project is now complete!

This project features 52 new homes for residents in Calgary’s northwest community of Sage Hill.

Situated on a hillside, the project’s grading introduced a level of complexity to how the building is accessed. The slope allowed for two distinct entries: one at the garage level, set lower on the site, and another as a split-level that bridges the transition between the garage and the main living spaces.

Congratulations to Logel Homes for the completion of this attractive project! Click the link in our bio to learn more and visit our website to find more of Logel Home's projects, like the Seton West Multi!

Shaganappi Live/Work Fourplex is Complete!

With the completion of the Shaganappi Live/Work fourplex, our clients goal of providing housing and support to small local business in this community has been achieved! We’re excited to celebrate these townhomes in Calgary’s Shaganappi neighbourhood.

The three-storey, fourplex development introduces spaces that combine modern living with opportunities for small businesses. By shifting away from a larger mixed-use concept, the project reflects the character and scale the community was seeking—earning strong support from local residents.

It features two homes facing 24A street to the west, and two live/work units on 17th Avenue SW. All four of the homes in this development feature open living spaces and dual-master bedrooms with ensuites. The homes range from 1460 to 1875 square feet. The two west-facing units also have third-floor recreation spaces each complete with a lounge, wet bar, and full bathroom. Each of the units has large private balconies on the third floor. Large curtain-wall like glazing on the south elevation indicates the commercial uses of the main level, whereas the smaller punched windows of the upper floors suggest their more private, domestic use.

Click the button below to learn more about the Shaganappi Live/Work Towns!

Building Permits are Here for Kerr's Badke Road Multi!

Kerr Properties' Badke Road Multi has reached an exciting milestone with the Building Permit now submitted to the City of Kelowna.

Following Development Permit approval earlier this year, the design and consultant teams have worked closely to advance coordinated documentation that reflects the intent of Kelowna’s 2024 Official Community Plan. Early collaboration with City Planning and technical consultants ensured alignment with Kelowna’s new zoning bylaw and site-specific conditions—including a high water table that shaped the parkade and grade transitions.

This six-storey, 121,000 ft² rental development in Rutland will deliver 120 new homes to the growing East Kelowna community. It is designed with brownstone-inspired façades, EV-ready parking, and welcoming shared amenity spaces that connect to the pedestrian-oriented streetscape.

Click below to learn more about Kerr's impressive multifamily project!

Partners Homes is Keeping Busy! DP Re-Approved for Wedderburn Towns!

Partners Homes is keeping busy! They are actively building across Alberta, and the development permit has now been re-approved for Wedderburn Towns (Phase 12)!

This project previously had its DP approved in May 2024, but since then our team was asked to revisit the site design to seek out more opportunities. The site strategy has since been redesigned to add another building, increasing the overall density by 34% for our client! This project will now add 110 homes (up from its previous 82 units) within 11 buildings to the growing town of Okotoks, Alberta. Three building types will offer variety in home sizes and types, supporting Partners’ goal to create community while appealing to a larger market. Townhomes, stacked suites, attached garages, and extensive on-site parking all contribute to this vision.

This stacked townhome project builds on the successful designs we've delivered with Partners, including the Wedderburn Rowgalows and Arrive D'arcy!

Click the button below learn more about Wedderburn Towns!

'The Q' Multi-Residential Got Cladding!

Construction is well underway on The Q, a four-storey multi-family development in Edmonton’s Queen Mary Park.

Centrally located near downtown and just steps from the North Saskatchewan River Valley, the project is making exciting progress! By slightly easing the front setback requirements, we were able to bring the building closer to the street as part of our design considerations. This adjustment creates a stronger connection with pedestrians and residents while also providing enough space to expand the units from compact studios into full one- and two-bedroom homes.

Keeping the setback modest was key design decision, as it allowed us to maintain density without reducing the overall number of homes on the site.

The parcel’s east–west orientation also influenced how we approached the unit layouts. Instead of a conventional arrangement, we rotated the double-loaded corridor so it runs perpendicular to the street. This shift increased the number of homes with southern exposure, resulting in brighter interiors and more balconies that capture natural light throughout the day.

Click the button below to learn more about this project!

Full Building Permit for BCDG’s first building is approved!

The Brentwood W2 is the first multi-residential building proposed for Brentwood Homes in the Woodcroft community of northwest Edmonton! It was designed within the guidelines of the Brentwood Master Plan that Gravity prepared for the Brentwood Community Development Group (BCDG). This master plan has been divided into eight phases, starting from the northwest corner of the site and progressing eastward, with the final phase on the northeast corner.

This first phase includes some new roads, pathways and landscaping, but principally consists of a 5-storey multi residential structure that will add 69 units to the Brentwood site. It will provide apartments ranging from 700 to 1,200 square feet, with both 2- and 3-bedroom size configurations Because this housing is geared towards families, there are no studio or 1-bedroom apartments.

Brentwood is owned and operated by the BCDG, a non-profit organization. Through an operating agreement with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Brentwood offers income-subsidized rent to assist low-income families

The building permit approval represents another successful milestone for this master planned development and for future residents of the Woodcroft community!

Click here to learn more about the Brentwood Master Plan and click the button below to learn about this Phase 1 multi-residential building!

Another Project Milestone for Luxuria Developments!

The development permit is now approved for the University Townhomes (Block 11)!

The University Towns are located just north of Calgary's University District’s main commercial street. They feature 28 three-storey homes across four buildings. Each offers approximately 2,000 square feet of developed living space and include private double garages.

Our client approached Gravity with a vision for the entire block, which includes both these townhomes and Luxuria's University multi-residential on the south side of the same site. This vision aligns with the University District’s design guidelines and goals for a mixed-use urban community that offers diverse housing options and fosters connectivity between spaces for residents to enjoy.

Click the button below to learn more!

Excel Homes' Monocle Townhomes: The Most Streamlined Project to Date

Excel Homes' Monocle Townhomes has set a new benchmark for Gravity Architecture, becoming the fastest project in our portfolio to move from Feasibility Study to Development Permit submission, and the project now has DP approval!

A defining element of Monocle Townhomes has been its accelerated timeline, a request of our client. Moving a project of this scale through its milestones at this quickened pace required strategic planning and collaboration with the consultant team, Gravity, and the client from project start to ensure the project stayed on track. With feasibility study completed in early October 2024, and DP submission in March 2025, this project has been a welcomed achievement for Gravity, set a new milestone for Gravity, becoming the most streamlined in our portfolio to advance to this phase in just under six months,

Designing the site required careful problem-solving to address significant grading and landscape challenges. In particular, sloping the garage spaces was necessary to achieve the client’s oversized garage design. Despite these constraints, the final site plan provides a cohesive layout with welcoming courtyards and a generous amenity space in the southeast corner, encouraging walkability and community connection.

Click below to read more about Excel Homes's Monocle townhouse project!

Partners' Wedderburn Project Complete!

We are excited to share Partners’ Wedderburn Rowgalows are now complete! These 22 rowgalows are complemented by spectacular landscaping in the growing town of Okotoks, Alberta.

Typically, when you think of row houses, you think of two-storey homes. Partners Homes and our team developed a plan for a bungalow row house configuration, as a smaller alternative to the traditional row house, which we call a ‘rowgalow’!

While these plans were adapted from the Arrive D'Arcy project constructed in Okotoks for Partners, these lots are between 2 and 3 meters shallower, making the siting that much more challenging. One of the specific design challenges we had to overcome was a curved setback in front of Building A, which (after various attempts at sliding and crushing the standard plans) we solved with a unique unit layout.

Click below to learn more about the project!

DP Submitted for Luxuria's University District Multi!

Introducing Luxuria Development's University District Multi-Residential!

The development permit for this exciting project has officially been submitted.

Located in Calgary’s growing University District, this mixed-use community embraces a contemporary approach to urban living, anchored by a main street with residential, retail, office, and community spaces. Luxuria’s multi-residential project supports the district’s vision by bringing housing options that create a vibrant, active community.

This five-storey, wood-frame development delivers 156 homes across two buildings on a parcel directly south of Luxuria’s University Towns. Although part of the same urban block, the parcel was subdivided to accommodate both multi and townhouse projects—presenting unique opportunities and design challenges for each.

The site’s gentle but significant slope, combined with strict bylaw height limits, required a carefully calibrated design approach. Although the two buildings appear visually cohesive, their differing configurations are driven by the parkade stair core locations and egress requirements, which impacted where they intersected the main level above on each building resulting in distinct layouts.

Click below to learn more about the design considerations behind this project, and stay tuned for updates on Luxuria Development’s University Towns project!

The Development Permit for Partners Homes' Greenwich Rowhouse is Approved!

This 11-building development features three- and four-unit layouts, each with an oversized two-car garage and approximately 2,500 square feet of living space across three levels. Homes offer two or three bedrooms, a third-floor primary suite, flexible kitchen layouts, and the option for a ground-level office or fourth bedroom.

Partners Homes asked for spacious slab-on-grade designs with a modern brownstone exterior. To deliver on this vision, we incorporated three alternating brick-clad palettes to create variety while maintaining a cohesive streetscape.

The site is organized around a central municipal reserve, where rear-lane garage access allows for uninterrupted green space and pedestrian-friendly frontage.

Key challenges included meeting a strict 3.0m maximum front setback around the MR while maintaining 6.0m driveways, as well as coordinating multiple rights-of-way and easements for servicing. Our team worked closely with consultants to resolve these issues—even while the DP was under review—ensuring the building layouts and servicing worked hand in hand.

The result is a project that balances client priorities with site requirements, offering generous interiors, striking exteriors, and a community-oriented design.

Be sure to click below to read more about these fee-simple rowhouses for Calgary's Upper Greenwich community!

Shaganappi Gets Clad!

Cladding is going up on Shaganappi! Wrapping up the exterior is a significant milestone for NAI Advent's inner SW Calgary project. They are aiming to bring these these 99-units to market later this year!

The three cladding colours start to reveal how the street-facing façade is organized with a tiered series of masses. The rectangular ‘pixels’ puncture the massing to carve outdoor amenity spaces within the façade while simultaneously facilitating porosity for natural lighting and views.

Soon, the curtain walls will be installed at the grand two-story entry. This dramatic entry was designed to create a sense of arrival for residents and visitors, providing a visual connection to the common amenity spaces beyond. Advent envisioned this building as a unique place to live, and this entry is one of the many architectural features we designed to achieve that feeling.

Make sure to click the link in our bio to learn more about Advent's Shaganappi project!

Exciting news for Genesis Builders – The DP is approved Cobalt Bay Towns!

This modest low-rise multi-residential development consists of 13 buildings and six building types with a total of 91 units. This project offers a mix of stacked and standard townhomes for the Bayview community in Airdrie, Alberta.

The architectural design showcases a modern take on a traditional architectural style. The buildings feature pitched roofs and large windows, drawing inspiration from craftsman architecture while integrating contemporary elements.

Click below to learn more about Cobalt Bay Towns!

The DP is now approved for Apaar Homes' Highwood Towns!

The Highwood Towns are part of Apaar Homes’ mixed-use development that will include stacked townhomes, commercial spaces and a daycare facility. It is located in the Montrose neighbourhood on the south side of High River, Alberta.

This development will consist of 15 stacked townhouse buildings, totalling 146 units, with one-level units on the bottom and two-level units on top. The design of the public and private outdoor amenity spaces was a key consideration for this project. For outdoors amenities, we have provided two large central spaces, and then many smaller spaces thoughtfully located throughout the site.

To learn more about Apaar Homes' community development click below!

Introducing Mohamed—Gravity's newest architect to join our Vancouver office!

Mohamed Ahmed

Mohamed Ahmed brings Gravity over a decade of industry experience and a portfolio that includes a range of residential, commercial, educational, and mixed-use projects across British Columbia and Ontario. He is a registered Architect with the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) and is a Certified Professional (CP), with additional certifications in environmental design, energy efficiency, and advanced building codes through RAIC, AIBC, and the University of Toronto. His roles have spanned construction documentation to administration, with a strong emphasis on Code knowledge and building performance.

Gravity is thrilled to have him and his expertise join our Vancouver office and the Gravity team!

Homes by Creation Mixed Use's DP is Submitted!

We are excited to share that we have submitted the Development Permit for a mixed use building for Homes by Creation! Located in Airdrie, Alberta, this project will bring 56 residential units and 10 retail spaces just off of Edmonton Trail in Airdrie, Alberta.

The site is the former location of the RCMP in Airdrie, and is both adjacent to a highway onramp and established low density residential development. Taking this context into account was an essential aspect of the design process. Siting the four-storey building towards the NE corner of the property was vital to reducing proximity and overlook concerns with adjacent townhomes to the west, and the single detached dwellings slightly downhill to the south. Combined with landscape screening measures, this strategy mitigated many of the community's concerns. This project's proximity to the Queen Elizabeth II Highway also resulted in additional time and consideration given the required traffic impact assessment, sound study, and provincial reviews.

The resulting project respects the nature of a residential neighbourhood while mitigating the proximity to major Alberta thoroughfare.

Click below to read more about this project!

Introducing Renaissance Canmore!

Introducing Renaissance Canmore, located in the picturesque mountain community of Canmore, Alberta.

This is is a master-planned housing development comprising eight buildings that sit on Stewart Creek Rise just off the scenic Three Sisters Parkway.

Our team has been tasked to take the Hortus building to completion. It is a four-storey multi-residential building that includes ten units. The building is prominently positioned as the first point of arrival on the site. It has three one-bedroom and six two-bedroom units, ranging from approximately 800 to 1,500 square feet. It also has a small affordable studio apartment. All of these houses are supported by a single level of underground parking. Above the parkade, a continuous landscaping weaves together the buildings and surrounding outdoor spaces.

Renaissance Canmore has direct access to the Three Sisters Parkway—a multi-use corridor popular for hiking, biking, and walking, and known for its scenic views of the Three Sisters mountain peaks. The site is also almost immediately adjacent to The Gateway, a new mixed use area that includes shops and a grocery store.

Click below to learn more!

(Gateway link: https://thegatewayatthreesisters.ca/)

Revitalizing 16th Avenue: Harmony One Mixed Use

Once dominated by traffic and congestion, Calgary’s 16th Avenue North—part of the TransCanada Highway—has undergone a significant transformation over the past two decades. Historically a four-lane route clogged with commuter and intercity vehicles, the City of Calgary took a bold step in 2005 to reimagine the corridor through the 16 Avenue North Urban Corridor Area Redevelopment Plan.

The plan called for widening the road to six lanes while introducing increased urban density and mixed-use development. It envisioned a corridor lined with six-storey buildings, with even taller structures anchoring major intersections—creating a more walkable, livable, and transit-friendly environment.

Harmony One is a key piece of this evolving streetscape. Located mid-block, this mixed-use development combines ground-floor retail, second-floor office space, and four levels of residential units above. The building also features a rooftop photovoltaic solar array and a private outdoor amenity space for residents.

As the area continues to grow and evolve, developments like Harmony One demonstrate how design and policy can work together to turn high-traffic corridors into complete, livable communities.

Paleco is the developer and Gravity is the design architect for this project.

Gravity Mourns the Passing of Trent Letwiniuk

Trent Letwiniuk
May 21 1977–August 4, 2025

Trent Letwiniuk, one of the owners and directors of Gravity Architecture, died in a motorcycle accident on Monday, August 4th. We are devastated by this tragedy and have been thinking of Trent’s family as they grieve the loss of a loved one who was a husband, son, brother, and uncle.

Trent was a founding partner at Inertia Residential Design in 2006 and of Gravity Architecture in 2014. With his partner and a growing team of professionals, he built the firm to a 26-person strong firm with offices in Calgary and Vancouver. He was a talented designer and draftsperson, but moreover excelled at building client relationships and representing the firm. He deeply cared about our clients’ needs and wants, and championed these throughout the planning, design, and construction processes of their projects. Trent set an example for the team of diligence and accuracy, efficiency, and excellence. He was also constantly thinking about how to make Gravity better at what we do.

We are grateful for the sympathy and thoughtfulness that our colleagues and clients have expressed to us as we have sadly delivered this terrible news over the last week. We are blessed to be a part of such a supportive community. The team at Gravity had the opportunity to gather this week and process Trent’s loss. It was confusing and sad, cathartic and kind, and a tremendous reminder of the support that we have in each other.

Gravity has no choice but to adjust to our new reality. Without Trent representing Gravity as well as he did, we will have to step up and try our best to do this without him. We have the benefit of Trent growing the business development team over the last five years and sharing with them his approach, values, and systems. Stephen Barnecut is now the sole owner and, with the benefit of 26 years working alongside Trent, will continue to pilot our clients’ projects towards success. Only a few years ago, this event may have been devastating for the company. However, under Trent’s co-leadership, the firm has become strong enough to weather a loss of even this magnitude.

We offer our deepest condolences to his wife, Vivian Rocha; his parents, Ray and Lorraine Letwiniuk; his brother, Ryan Letwiniuk, and sister-in-law, Kim Letwiniuk, and his nephews, Eric and Colin Letwiniuk.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 16th, at Eden Brook Funeral Home & Cemetery in Calgary.