In this episode of the hosts Mary James and Jay Fox sit down with Vincent Bergeron, an architect with Equipe A Arichtects in Quebec, to explore Le Monarch—a groundbreaking social housing project in Sherbrooke. With 134 units guaranteed affordable for 35 years, this high-rise development is notable not only for its scale but for its ambitious pivot toward Passive House principles. Van shares how a tight timeline, a challenging site, and a collaborative team led to innovative choices in prefabrication, envelope design, and energy efficiency. Hear how a late-stage decision to pursue Passive House certification helped shape a healthier, more resilient living environment for low-income families, all while keeping costs in check.

https://equipea.ca/

In this seventh episode of The Reimagine Edit (TRE) series of the Passive House Podcast, host Zack Semke shares selected clips of insights from Jessica Grove Smith, Mark Attard, Rainger Pinney, John Loercher, Galen Staengl, Mike Fowler, Cait Eggers, Sean Velez, Nidhi Shaw, and Lloyd Alter.

The Reimagine Edit is a special series of the Passive House Podcast that shares curated insights from our Experts-In-Residence at the Reimagine Buildings Collective, our membership community of building professionals stepping up to tackle climate change. Learn more about the Reimagine Buildings Collective at https://www.reimaginebuildings.com

Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast we are joined by Mark Anderson a Registered Master Builder, Licensed Building Practitioner, and Certified Passive House Tradesperson based in Wanaka, New Zealand. Mark founded MA Building in 2013, driven by a commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and innovation in residential construction. Growing up on building sites alongside his father, Mark developed a deep respect for the trade, which he now channels into creating high-performance, architecturally designed homes. His passion for Passive House principles stems from a desire to build healthier, more energy-efficient homes for future generations.

Connect with Mark Anderson:

Website: mabuilding.co.nz

Instagram: @mabuilding_wanaka

PHINZ Directory: M A Building Wanaka

Resources Mentioned:

MA Building Blog: Why I Chose Passive Homes: The Real Story

Passive House Institute New Zealand: passivehouse.nz