ATCO: Building Houses Faster and Better
ATCO began in 1947 as Alberta Trailer Hire, building trailers for Alberta’s budding oil and gas industry. Fast-forward to today and they have evolved into one of the world’s premier modular housing companies.
They are probably best known in Alberta for building the comfort camps for the oil sand workers north of Fort McMurray in the ‘90s and ‘00s. These camps are complete communities that include not only housing, but modern recreation facilities and dining halls.
In 2019, ATCO stepped up to create its first Veterans Village in Calgary’s Forest Lawn - a collection of 20 tiny homes (300 square feet) for Canadian Armed Forces members in need of housing. This concept has since been expanded to several other Canadian cities including Edmonton, Kingston and Winnipeg - with more in the works.
Today, ATCO has two divisions working to help solve Canada’s housing crisis – the existing ATCO Structures (camps and larger buildings) and the new VIVA Homes by ATCO (resulting from the acquisition of Triple M Housing (2023) and NBR modular (2024). These two divisions will allow ATCO to be a major player in new home construction in Calgary and beyond.
ATCO Structures
ATCO Structures was engaged by Attainable Homes Calgary (providers of below market homes for rent and ownership) to create its new Downtown West residential building at 1010 - 6th Ave SW. The double pitched-roof building looks like three 6-storey attached homes. In reality, it has 84 new rental homes, created by stacking 48 modules on top of each other and took just 69 days to assemble. This summer look for ATCO Structures and Attainable Homes Calgary to announce the construction of a 180 below market home project in Albert Park/Radison Heights.
VIVA Homes
Perhaps you have recently driven by ATCO’s world headquarters just off Crowchild Trail at 50th Avenue SW and wondered, “What is that huge black and white house doing there?” It is VIVA’s demonstration building, showcasing how ATCO can create four homes (two 3-bedroom homes on top of, two 1-bedroom homes at street level) on a typical 50’ by120’ Calgary infill lot, using their modular technology. FYI: This is not a public show home; it is for home builders and developers to see what VIVA Homes is capable of building.
The biggest advantage of VIVA’s modular building process is you can go from “shovel to sleeping” in 48 days. It takes just 6 weeks to complete the modules needed, which are then shipped to the site “fully loaded” i.e. complete with windows with blinds, kitchen and bathrooms with cupboards, vanity, sinks, showers, backsplash, as well as electrical, plumbing and flooring. Just tie in the services and move in the furniture.
FYI: The construction of a typical 4-home infill project on one site is about 225 days or 7 to 8 months.
Not only is VIVA faster, but there is better quality construction given they are built indoors, so trades have better working conditions, glues can bond better and there are no weather delays
The homes are also quieter than typical wood frame structure as there is a ceiling structure for the bottom module separate from the flooring structure of the module set on top of it, creating a sound barrier between the two levels, which is not found in a typical wood framed home.
The open living area of the 1-bedroom main floor.
The open living area of the 3-bedroom (two level) homes on the second floor.
“What about the basement?” you ask
There is no basement which is a cost saving for the new homeowner. Unlike typical townhome infills, where the smaller home is in the basement, VIVA’s smaller home (490 square feet) is at ground level which means they offer lots of sunlight and even a front porch.
VIVA Homes’ larger 3-bedroom homes (1,000 square feet) have the living room, kitchen, half-bath and utility room on the second floor and the three bedrooms on the third floor. Note: all three bedrooms share the same bathroom - another cost saving idea. FYI: I grew up in a house where there were four-bedrooms and only one bathroom – it can work!
Look for VIVA’s first Calgary modular homes to be completed this summer in Forest Lawn and Arbour Lake. ATCO is looking at its many land holdings in Calgary and other cities and towns where they can provide new homes – faster, better and at less cost.
ATCO’s vision is for VIVA to be creating 1,000 new homes by 2030 in Calgary and beyond utilizing sites it already owns and/or working with builders and cities who have sites that can benefit from its modular technology.
Last Word
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that ATCO’s founders were R.D. (Ron) Southern and his father, S.D. Southern. Yes, the same family that built Spruce Meadows, one of the best and most public-friendly equestrian centres in the world and notably done so without asking for any government funding. It has evolved to become one of Calgary’s biggest tourist attractions and entertainment centers with special events, live concerts and professional soccer. All thanks to the Southern Family’s ongoing generosity.
Note: An edited version of this blog was published in the Calgary Herald’s New Homes + Condos section on March 25, 2025.