A new wave of affordable housing is taking shape in downtown Calgary — not brick by brick, but box by box, as cranes stack prefabricated units into a new rental building along a major west-end street.

The project will include 84 studio apartments across six storeys, each one pre-built and equipped with essential appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washers, and dryers. The fully self-contained units arrive on-site ready to be installed, dramatically reducing construction timelines.

Manufactured in Calgary, Installed in Weeks

The modular units were fabricated at ATCO Structures’ facility in southwest Calgary over just three months. The building’s assembly phase — from the first crane lift to a fully stacked structure — began in mid-April and is scheduled to be completed by mid-August.

“Unlike conventional construction, which can take around two years, we’re completing this in just a few months,” said Jaydan Tait, CEO of Attainable Homes Calgary, the city-owned agency behind the initiative.

Addressing Calgary’s Housing Crisis

As Calgary’s housing crisis deepens, modular housing is proving to be a faster, more cost-effective solution. Tait explains that modular construction requires fewer workers, reduces on-site disruption, and ultimately lowers costs — savings that can be passed on to future tenants.

“This isn’t just about speed,” said Tait. “It’s about creating attainable rental options for Calgarians in a market that desperately needs them.”

A Scalable Solution?

The project could signal a larger shift in how urban housing is approached in Calgary and other Canadian cities struggling with affordability and supply. Modular construction is being considered for expanding emergency shelters, transitional housing, and even market rentals.

With inflation and population growth pressuring the housing sector, Calgary’s modular housing project may become a model for municipalities nationwide looking to build smart, fast, and affordably.