Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Langford is the third largest municipality in British Columbia’s Capital Regional District. It is rapidly transitioning from a suburban community to a major urban centre and, according to the latest national census data, Langford is one of the fastest growing communities in the country (Figures 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5). The benefits of growth have been numerous; with the increased tax revenues from new development reinvested into beautification initiatives, public amenities and new facili – ties. New development has also brought new jobs, services, affordable housing, and greater housing diversity. Despite the tangible benefits of development, climate protection and sustainability remain at the forefront of the city’s Official Community Plan.
At the urban scale, increased density and the juxtaposition of commercial, residential and other uses, reduces the environmental impacts of transportation; while higher performance standards for new construction lower the greenhouse gas emissions from the operation of the buildings themselves. In addition, the City of Langford has taken a progressive position on reducing the embodied carbon of buildings, encouraging the use of mass timber to help address this increasingly important component in the overall greenhouse gas emissions equation. The City of Langford has emerged as a leading advocate for mass timber construction, with Terminus at District 56 being one of several projects to benefit from the building departments proactive approach and openness to innovation. Together with the other phases of the District 56 development, it provides a template for future development and densification of the downtown core.
