Passive House Living in Canmore
In the heart of Canmore sits a home built to one of the world’s most demanding energy performance standards: Passive House. Recognized worldwide, the Passive House standard is designed to keep homes comfortable year-round while using very little energy.
This Canmore Passive House achieves that by combining airtight construction, advanced insulation, high-performance windows, and smart solar orientation. The result is simple but powerful: cozy indoor temperatures in the coldest Alberta winters, and naturally cool spaces during hot summers, all without the need for conventional heating or air conditioning.
Built for Efficiency and Sustainability
Woodpecker partnered with Lara McKendrick Architecture and T1W Engineering to bring this project to life. The structure features European spruce glulam beams and CLT panels, paired with locally sourced Douglas fir timbers. By blending precision-engineered components with the warmth of Canadian wood, the home balances advanced performance with natural beauty.
Every timber and mass timber element was fabricated and installed in-house by Woodpecker’s team, ensuring precision and craftsmanship from start to finish.
Innovative Timber Engineering
One of the standout features of this Canmore Passive House is its innovative moment connection system. Moment connections are structural joints that let beams and columns handle heavy loads and resist strong winds without the need for extra bracing.
Instead of visible metal fasteners, this system hides epoxy and threaded rods inside the timber itself. The result is both strong and seamless: a clean wood aesthetic that highlights the natural material while delivering top-tier engineering performance.
A Model for Energy-Efficient Homes in Alberta
This Canmore Passive House shows how sustainable design and advanced timber engineering can come together to set a new benchmark for energy-efficient homes in Alberta. With its high-performance envelope, locally sourced timber, and precision detailing, it’s a project that combines comfort, beauty, and responsibility to the environment
