Herald ATCO: Building Houses Faster and Better

Fom Crowchild Trail this structure looks like big single family suburban home sitting all by itself at 50th Ave SW next to ATCO’s headquarters. But in reality it is a four-plex with two 1-bedroom homes on the main level and two 2-bedroom homes on the upper floors using ATCO’s modular technology.. Given Calgary is Canada’s fastest growing major city, the need for building houses faster and better is critical to the city’s future.

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 1007 6th Ave. S.W. This 84-home 6 storey apartment building is now under construction in the ATCO Structures facility off Crowchild Trail and 50 Av SW. The homes are built on an assembly line and it takes only 21 days to build each module, which is made of two units and the connecting hallway section. The 48 modules will take only 69 days to build. The units will be shipped, stacked, and assembled on site this summer right after Stampede. New residents will be welcomed to this building by the end of this year.  

This project is right across the street from AHC’s triple pitched-roof building, with 70 housing units in it, currently under construction, that looks like three six-storey attached homes.

In the coming months, look for AHC and ATCO to announce plans for their next modular project, 200 modular built housing units in Sunnyside.

The building on the left will be built using ATCO Structures modular system while the one on the right uses conventional construction. Both will be managed as affordable housing by Attainable Homes Calgary.

Here are the modular units under construction in ATCO Structure’smanufacturing plant. (photo credit Jaydan Tait).

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 Homes 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.

“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 per year 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.

FYI: An edited version of this blog was published in the Calgary Herald’s New Homes + Condos section on April 26, 2025.