About
Cold Climate Building Inc.
Cold Climate Building Inc. provides consulting services to Architects, Builders, Government Housing Corporations and others who are responsible for delivering durable, energy efficient and comfortable buildings in the North.
The company is headed by Jeff Armstrong who has been building and designing energy efficient buildings since working as a carpenter on Baffin Island in the late 1970’s. With degrees in architecture from Ryerson and McGill Universities Jeff has been a leading edge designer, builder and teacher for over 30 years.
As a respected member of a network of architects, engineers and builders who share a passion for high performance buildings, Jeff can assemble a team of experienced professionals to tackle any Cold Climate Building challenge.
Jeff Armstrong – Principal, Cold Climate Building Inc.
Relevant projects and roles include:…
March 2017
Consultant – “Pre-fabricated Exterior Energy Retrofits” – December 2016 – ongoing
Engaged by Natural Resources Canada as their prime consultant in assessing the feasibility of using pre-fabricated wall panels to upgrade the energy performance of existing housing. Tasks include the evaluation of 3-D laser scanning, photogrammetry and other means of measuring existing building facades, a study of industry readiness to produce finished retrofit panels and the design and installation of the panelized solutions themselves.
Author – “Prefabricated Exterior Wall Systems for Multi-Unit Arctic Housing” – December 2016 – March 2017
A report prepared for the Canmet Energy Group at Natural Resources Canada. The study involved the design and evaluation of five pre-fab insulated wall types suitable for building Part 9 housing in the Arctic. The cost analysis included panel fabrication, packaging for transport, shipping to six communities across the North and site installation.
January 2016
Technical Director – Kott Group, 2014 – 2016
A key member of the business development team at Kott focussed on designing pre-fabricated building systems for arctic housing; cost-optimized mid-rise timber buildings; PassivHaus residential and commercial projects; and the use of mass timber as a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel structures in buildings.
January 2014
President – DAC International, 1988 – 2014
Transformed a small, Ottawa-based custom housing firm into an off-site manufacturer with significant export sales. In 2005 the company was sold to the Kott Group where it operated as an independent business unit until 2014.
January 2013
Designer / Project Manager – Eco Durable Northern Building, March 2014
Contracted by Natural Resources Canada to design and pre-fabricate a rapidly deployable cold-climate building prototype that can be erected without site-installed fasteners or the use of mechanical lifting equipment. Features include an innovative aluminum foundation system, and the use of SIP panels incorporating vacuum insulation.
January 2012
Trainer – CMHC International Training Team, 1999 – 2012
Made presentations and provided training in the field of high-performance wood-frame housing in Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, the UK and Ireland.
February 2009
Designer / Project Manager – SIP Building System, August 2009 – July 2010
Headed the design team that produced an innovative Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) building system in response to a request from the Nunavut Housing Corporation (NHC). Oversaw the production of SIP panels for 142 housing units and developed video and written training materials for these buildings which were erected in 19 Nunavut communities.
January 2006
Designer / Production Manager – Social Housing, London UK, 2006
Responsible for the enclosure design and prefabrication of a three storey, eleven-unit Super ETM affordable housing project for the Southern Housing Group.