Nestled in the heart of Ottawa’s vibrant Chinatown, Jade Apartments is a nine-storey, mixed-use residential building featuring ground-floor retail spaces and impressive amenities. Thoughtfully designed to reflect its cultural surroundings, the building integrates traditional gabled roof forms at the residential entrance and penthouse level— an architectural nod to the historic rooflines that characterize Somerset Street West. The front façade is set back from the property line to enhance street-level interaction and create accessible entrances to the retail spaces. Addressing the site's steep slope, a combination of ramps and steps link the shops, forming a broad, tiered landscape that invites seating and community gathering—an amenity currently missing in the area.

Departing from zoning guidelines that allowed nearly full lot coverage for the lower floors, the design introduces a rear southeast courtyard. This green space offers residents generous daylight, a serene retreat, and visual relief from the urban surroundings. Crowning the building is a spacious communal rooftop terrace, offering a social hub with panoramic views, including glimpses of the distant Ottawa River.