Moses Structural Engineers is proud to celebrate two new milestones for the BMO Fischer-Hallman Branch in Kitchener, Ontario: the project has officially achieved Passive House Classic certification and has been recognized with a 2026 Canadian Green Building Award.
The Fischer-Hallman branch is the first Passive House Classic certified commercial bank building in North America, demonstrating how rigorous energy-performance standards can be successfully integrated into a familiar commercial building type.
Designed by Kearns Mancini Architects, the approximately 5,000 sq. ft. branch uses cross-laminated timber (CLT) as a central part of its structural and sustainability strategy. The mass timber system helps reduce embodied carbon while supporting the building’s high-performance envelope. Continuous airtightness detailing, extensive exterior insulation, a Passive House-certified triple-glazed curtain wall system, and rooftop photovoltaics further contribute to reducing energy use and operational carbon.
The project has also received the Commercial Industrial (Small) Award at the 2026 Canadian Green Building Awards, presented by Sustainable Architecture & Building Magazine (SABMag). The jury recognized the project for reimagining a conventional commercial building through Passive House principles, low-carbon materials, prefabricated timber construction, strong energy performance, and a focus on occupant wellbeing.
These latest achievements build on the project’s growing recognition. In 2025, the Fischer-Hallman Branch also received the Workplace Excellence Award – Small at the CoreNet Global Canadian Chapter REmmy Awards.
We are proud to have provided structural engineering for this forward-looking project and congratulate BMO, Kearns Mancini Architects, and the entire project team on these latest milestones. Projects like Fischer-Hallman reflect our commitment to reshaping how buildings get built through thoughtful structural design, lower-carbon materials, and high-performance solutions.
Project Team:
Owner/Developer: BMO
Architect: Kearns Mancini Architects
Structural Engineer: Moses Structural Engineers
Mass Timber Supplier: Element5
General Contractor: O.N. Site Construction Inc.
Electrical Engineer: Quasar Consulting Group
Mechanical Engineer: Eddie Gandolfi
Sustainability: Pratus Group
Commissioning Agent: Akonovia
Passive House Consultant: Peel Passive House Consulting
Read more about the Passive House certification.
Read more about the 2026 Canadian Green Building Award
