Windmill Development Group Ltd

About Windmill Development Group Ltd

Windmill Development Group’s Vision for Sustainable Real Estate

Windmill Development Group Ltd is a Canadian firm founded with a vision to create a carefully-curated portfolio of “green” real estate that proves to be more sustainable and competitive in the long-term than the conventional development model.

Since its inception, Windmill has focused on conceptualizing, designing, and constructing real estate projects that protect and enhance the surrounding community and its ecosystems. With a well-rounded, dynamic, and knowledgeable team of professionals who bring decades of experience in design, construction, and real estate, Windmill has consistently delivered on its vision of creating healthy and high-performance buildings that harness innovative technologies and industry techniques to benefit stakeholders at large.

This article provides an overview of Windmill Development Group’s key projects and initiatives, highlighting how the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility is changing the landscape of real estate development for the better.

Founding Members of Windmill Development Group

Windmill’s founders, Peter Busby and Jonathan Westeinde, bring a wealth of experience and expertise from their respective fields to the organization’s operations.

Peter Busby is the Managing Director of Perkins + Will’s Vancouver office, an architectural firm with a global reach. With more than 100 employees working on projects across the world, Busby provides sustainable design leadership to the firm’s 23 offices worldwide. He founded the Canada Green Building Council and has been invested as a member of the Governor General’s Order of Canada in 2005. Busby’s expertise in sustainable design has been instrumental in driving Windmill’s mission to create eco-friendly and energy-efficient buildings that deliver long-term benefits to the environment and the community.

Jonathan Westeinde has a wealth of experience in corporate strategy, finance, and business development relating to sustainable development practice. As part of Ledcor Construction, Westeinde founded a new national consortium focusing on green building retrofits. He has also held a senior position at a venture capital firm and was a founding partner of a venture capital services division at a major Canadian law firm. To date, Westeinde has been responsible for the complete oversight of four LEED Platinum-certified mixed-use communities. Westeinde’s expertise in implementing sustainable development practices has helped Windmill create a holistic approach to real estate development that emphasizes environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and financial viability.

Windmill Development Group’s portfolio includes a diverse range of residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties that showcase the organization’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.

One of Windmill’s latest Toronto developments, The Plant, is a boutique mid-rise that enables residents to grow their own food while living with a smaller footprint. Located in the West Queen West neighbourhood, The Plant features an internal greenhouse, communal garden plots, a nursery, and plenty of communal eating spaces, plus an industrial kitchen perfect for socializing and preparing food. Windmill’s focus on eco-friendly design and sustainability is evident in The Plant’s ability to let residents experience the benefits of green living without sacrificing any of the style or convenience that comes with modern condominium living.

Windmill is currently working on an exciting development in Toronto’s Junction Triangle featuring the restoration and conversion of a historic church into one-of-a-kind residential units. Targeting an ambitious energy standard, Arch Lofts will feature geothermal heating and cooling, as well as an energy recovery ventilation system. This helps the building stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, while the ERV system provides each suite with a dedicated supply of fresh air. Part of Windmill’s strategy for creating healthy and high-performance buildings includes harnessing innovations in land use, water, air energy, design, waste management, and smart building technologies.

In Ottawa, the Windmill Development Group has been receiving attention for their Zibi project, a 37-acre redevelopment located on the downtown Gatineau riverfront. A collaborative partnership between Windmill and the Algonquin-owned Decontie Construction Inc, the $1.2-billion transformation will not only turn an underutilized industrial site into a sustainable, mixed-use community, but also help to build capacity by hiring and training Indigenous professionals to work on the project. Windmill’s approach to this project showcases its core values of environmental sustainability and social responsibility, creating positive change in the community beyond simply constructing buildings.

Cathedral Hill is a luxurious condominium and townhome development completed in 2015, with a total of 140 units. Offering unparalleled views of the Ottawa River, Gatineau Park, and Parliament Hill, Cathedral Hill units feature contemporary interior designs and an array of lifestyle amenities. The development received a LEED Gold designation for sustainable design, demonstrating Windmill’s commitment to creating properties that promote the health and well-being of residents while honoring the natural environment surrounding it.

Designed to serve as the headquarters of Genivar, a Canadian engineering firm, 2611 Queensview Drive spans 85,000 square feet and is an angular, sculptural building that is 35% more energy efficient than the Model National Energy Code calls for. The building features several sustainable design features, including an intelligent lighting system that adjusts to daylight levels, a rainwater capture system, and geothermal heating and cooling, among others.

Windmill Development Group’s Approach to Building Sustainable, High-Performance Real Estate

Windmill Development Group has devised a system that ensures strong ecological, social, and financial returns for all their projects. Their work is characterized by its focus on conceptualizing, designing, and constructing buildings that protect and enhance the surrounding community and its ecosystems.

Windmill’s approach to creating healthy and high-performance buildings includes harnessing innovations in land use, water, air energy, design, waste management, and smart building technologies. The organization believes that industry professionals have a responsibility to be positive agents of change in the construction and real estate industries. This refreshing viewpoint has earned Windmill recognition for its ability to deliver on commitments to sustainability and social responsibility.

Over the years, Windmill Development Group has built a reputation as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking real estate development firms in Canada. With a focus on creating healthy, sustainable communities that respect the environment and enhance quality of life, Windmill’s vision of green real estate development has earned statewide recognition and won numerous awards for its unique and innovative designs. Through its commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and financial viability, Windmill Development Group is pioneering a new generation of sustainable real estate development that is poised to reshape the industry for years to come.