2020 BC Residential Building Statistics & Trends Report

Impact of COVID-19 on Building Design Just over one-third of builders (34%) said the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way they design or plan to design housing projects in the future . Lower Mainland builders were the most likely report COVID-19 has impacted how they design or plan to design housing projects (39%), followed by 29% of Okanagan builders and 26% of Kootenays builders. Central and Northern B.C. builders (19%) and Southern Island builders (23%) were the least likely to report changing the way they design or plan to design. Builders with 3 to 10 years of experience were the most likely to report COVID-19 changed the way they design or plan to design (39%), while those with 20 or more years of experience were the least likely (29%).

Figure 29: COVID-19 Changed How Current or Future Housing Projects are Designed, 2020

25%

34%

34% Changed how projects are designed

41%

Yes No Unsure

Base: (n=1,291)

By housing type, builders of rowhouses, townhouses and duplexes were the most likely to report COVID-19 changed the way they design or plan to design housing projects (37%) while builders of multi-unit low-rises were the least likely (29%). Among builders who reported COVID-19 influencing their housing design, the most common changes reported were: including at-home office spaces (67%), improving ventilation and air quality control (65%), including more personal outdoor space (55%), and more natural light and operable windows (42%).

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