Unlocking the Value of Existing Buildings

The study was prepared by a multidisciplinary national team assembled to examine compliance pathways for existing and heritage buildings under the National Building Code (NBC) and the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB), with the goal of supporting Canadian markets in the transition toward future retrofit codes.

Working collaboratively, the team analyzed three case studies representing different geographic regions, building typologies, scales, and periods of construction, and evaluated three scenarios for each. The three case studies were used to generate evidence-based data across different Canadian contexts, demonstrating that retaining and upgrading existing buildings can consistently deliver environmental, cultural, and economic benefits compared to demolition and replacement, while informing recommendations for future code and policy reform.

The team worked closely with the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) and its Advocacy Committee, who provided ongoing review and feedback. Workshops were conducted in each of the case study locations to gather input from local stakeholders, with findings incorporated into the final report. Throughout the process, the team applied recognized conservation approaches and best practices when developing assumptions and evaluating retrofit strategies, ensuring that recommendations balanced heritage conservation objectives with energy performance and code compliance requirements.

Throughout the project, a series of workshops and lectures were held across Canada, creating opportunities for professionals working in sustainability, heritage conservation, and existing buildings to collaborate with the project team and contribute valuable insights. Participants provided region-specific perspectives on the economic, regulatory, and technical barriers facing building retrofits, including the interaction between energy codes and other local requirements, helping to ground the project’s findings and recommendations in real-world experience.

As Canada pursues its climate and housing targets, existing buildings and adaptive reuse must become central components of national policy rather than exceptions within regulatory frameworks primarily designed for new construction. The findings demonstrate the need for a fundamental shift in building codes, standards, and approval processes to recognize the environmental, cultural, and economic value of existing buildings.

Key recommendations include developing retrofit-focused code pathways tailored to existing conditions, prioritizing conservation-led upgrades that retain building fabric and embodied carbon, integrating whole-life carbon assessment into codes, funding programs, and development approvals, and removing regulatory, zoning, and financing barriers that discourage adaptive reuse. Building codes must evolve to support the continued use, adaptation, and upgrading of existing and heritage buildings as a primary strategy for reducing carbon emissions, conserving resources, and accelerating housing delivery.

These findings have been distilled into a series of briefing notes that provide practitioners, building owners, policymakers, and the public with practical guidance on the opportunities, challenges, and policy changes required to unlock the full value of Canada’s existing building stock.