When the nation’s eyes turn to Whitehorse for the 2007 Canada Winter Games, modular structures will be front and centre.
Whitehorse
Supplying much more than basic construction site trailers
Staff Writer
When the nation’s eyes turn to Whitehorse for the 2007 Canada Winter Games, modular structures will be front and centre.
ATCO Structures, one of the leading modular firms in Canada, is an official supplier for the Games. And this company will supply all the temporary units at the Games.
But the structures provided by ATCO will go far beyond the small trailer seen on many construction sites.
In fact, that’s only a small part of the modular business, said ATCO Structures sales vice-president Randy Hughes.
“The structure we provided for the Canada Winter Games is a three-storey complex that really shows the differences in modular building,” Hughes said.
“Our business is all about workforce housing and space rental, and the modular business is far greater than the trailer concept. It fills many niches.”
ATCO is providing the housing for 3,500 athletes for the upcoming games, with 141 factory-built modules deployed in multi-storey configurations. The company has provided similar structures for other Olympic and Commonwealth events around the world, he explained.
After the Canada Winter Games are complete, the structures will be used as permanent housing for Yukon College students.
While ATCO enjoys exclusivity in the Whitehorse project, such is not the case in the Northern Alberta’s oil sands.
“Our overall level of activity in the oil sands is no different than anyone else,” Hughes said.
ATCO is providing Nexen, Inc. with camp facilities for 2,100 workers at their Long Lake oil sands project in Athabasca. Each camp features a dormitory, kitchen, offices and recreation facilities.
Making facilities that are livable is an important part of this process, Hughes said.
“If you’re working at a remote site and spending time away from your family, you want it to be nice,” he said.
Though the oil sands account for a big portion of ATCO’s business, Hughes said the company’s modular structures are employed globally, with branches in Canada, Alaska, Chile and Australia.
ATCO Structures is only one part of the ATCO Group of companies, which include interests in the utilities and oil and gas sectors. It also has the distinction of being the starting point for ATCO’s now-global reach.
Founded in 1947 by R.D. Southern as Alberta Trailer Hire, the company continues to supply modular and logistical needs.
ATCO Structures is building a three-storey, 141-modular athlete village for the 2007 Canada Winter Games. The building will later serve as permanent student residence for Yukon College.
Recent Comments
comments for this post are closed