Hosted by Lumon Retractable Glass
1 ConEd Learning Hours
7:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Apartment balconies are important features in high-density urban housing, yet there are few studies
that explore how they are used, or which designs are the most desirable or successful. During the
COVID-19 pandemic and associated stay-at-home orders, for many urban dwellers, apartment balconies
provided their only outdoor space.
The urban balcony, as a threshold space between outdoor and indoor, public and private, sheltered and
unsheltered, the “in-betweenness” of it is defined by its qualities—either an extension of the
home or a place beyond the borders of privacy. Balconies can provide a sense of security and enliven
urban spaces. They can provide a place where private life can open up to well-being with fresh air,
natural light, and community engagement. However, balconies can also be uncomfortable, seldom-used,
and often cramped and cluttered spaces in multi-unit residential buildings where no proper provision of
storage space has been provided in suites.
Balcony design is very challenging in cold climates like Canada and there is not a great deal of guidance available to
designers on how to provide inhabitants of mid-rise and high-rise housing projects with a well-
tempered balcony environment.
This seminar is derived from collaborative research conducted on behalf of BC Housing by building
science researchers at the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University. It is intended to
give architects an understanding of the latest guidance pertaining to balcony designs that enhance
quality of life, support plantings and vegetation, and enhance thermal comfort and resilience.
Learning Objectives
- Learn about the new research study findings.
- Gain an understanding of the latest guidance.
- Discuss design approaches and options based on these findings.
- Explore solutions for mid-rise and high-rise housing projects.
Ted Kesik, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Ted Kesik, Ph.D., P.Eng.