Join YCLM and Bockstael for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Solara Flats, a landmark development in sustainable urban living and social inclusion. Located in the heart of Downtown Winnipeg, Solara Flats is slated to be Manitoba's first net-zero emission apartment high-rise and western Canada’s first near carbon zero residential hi-rise, setting a new benchmark for energy-efficient mixed-income housing.

Date: Thursday, August 21
Time: Arrival and registration at 3:30 p.m., tour will begin at 3:45 p.m.
Location: 308 Colony Street
Cost: $30 - includes a ticket to YCLM’s Summer Mixer at Tavern Rooftop
PPE Required: Steel-toed boots, high-vis vest, hardhat, safety glasses

This 21-storey, mixed-use tower is a bold step forward in environmental innovation and community-building. Developed through a unique partnership between the University of Winnipeg’s Community Renewal Corporation, Lotus Holdings and private and government partners, Solara Flats features 214 modern, high-performance rental units—with a third dedicated to affordable housing and nearly a third designed for barrier-free or adaptable living. It is an exemplary model of inclusive urban design.

As part of this immersive tour, you’ll explore:

• Manitoba’s first large-scale use of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) panels, seamlessly embedded into the building envelope, helping drive the building toward net-zero ready status.

• A suite of sustainable design features and high-efficiency building systems that drastically reduce operational carbon emissions and utility costs.

• Affordable housing solutions that maintain quality, comfort, and access to premium amenities, including a landscaped terrace, gym, and common lounge areas.

• Mixed use development with main floor commercial suites adding to the vibrancy of the building and adjacent street spaces. 

• The strategic integration of social equity, universal design, and green building practices, all under one roof.

See how this flagship project for UWCRC leverages funding and collaboration across all levels of government, while demonstrating how forward-thinking design can transform downtown cores into vibrant, livable, and low-carbon communities.

Whether you’re in housing, urban planning, architecture, engineering, sustainability, or public policy, Solara Flats offers real-world insights into how net-zero, near carbon zero affordable, and inclusive development can be achieved—at scale.

Thanks as always to our 2025 Sponsors for making this event possible: