Along a busy street at the western end of the center, another new rental building is climbing, but instead of building from scratch, the prefabricated units are being placed instead, piece by piece.
Each stacked box contains two study apartments, already full of appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washing machines and dryers.
In total, the pieces will constitute 84 studio apartments on six floors.
“We can shout in all modules in place in 10 days, which is a very fast rhythm in a highly densified area,” said Adam Beattie, president of Atco Structures.
The modular units were manufactured in the ATCO Structures factory in southwest Calgary. They took approximately three months to complete.
Jaydan Tait, CEO of Attainable Homes Calgary, the city owned by the project, says that the speed of modular construction is a great advantage since Calgary addresses an ongoing housing crisis.
“From the starting point of manufacturing to a completely stacked building, from April 15 to mid -August, so only a few months, unlike a typical construction construction that can be on average approximately two years,” Tait said.
Compared to traditional constructions, this approach requires less labor, says Tait, and construction costs are lower, since it takes less time to complete. He says that it is reflected in the price charged to the tenants.
“We will be able to rent each study unit, 84 studies there, for less than $ 1,100 per month,” he said.
“Then, if you earn around $ 44,000 to $ 50,000, you are the type of customer that we want to live in this building and that is estimated that you do not spend more than 30 percent of your income for rent.”
Once all the elements, including stairs and elevators, are in their place, ATCO will work to add external coatings and other final touches. The building is expected to be complete in December and will be ready for its first tenants on January 1.
Despite the rush of modular construction, Beattie said quality is not a problem.
“The modular structure actually has more structural components than a traditional construction because it not only has the structural requirements of the building general of the building, but each module has intensified structural elements so that it can be transported to the site in a safe and effective way,” said Beattie.
“It has a lot of durability and longevity that can endure so much, if not more, a traditional construction and the quality of the finish.”
Both Beattie and Tait say they expect the residential modular approach to become even more common as Canada addresses a scarcity of ongoing housing, especially with the federal government. technique support as part of your housing plan.
Meanwhile, the attainable Homes Calgary is developing another modular project, this time, in Sunnyside, with the manufacture scheduled to start in autumn.
