ATCO-Triple M project tackles housing shortage

By Lethbridge Herald on November 6, 2025.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Multiple modules of multiple modular homes are being built for the Viva Homes project in Northwest Calgary at Triple M Housing Tuesday.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

Triple M Housing is doing its part to help with the ongoing housing shortage across the province by building multi-level modular homes for a multi-family complex in Calgary. 

Rick Weste, president and CEO of Triple M Housing, a division of ATCO Structures, said since the housing market is going through an affordability and shortage crisis, it was important for them to help, as they can provide ready-to-move-in homes within a short period of time. 

“Modular products are becoming mainstream and will be integral in increasing productivity in the construction industry, as we tackle the housing affordability crisis in Canada,” said Weste. 

He said this Viva Homes Project is a neat project for them as they usually service rural areas, and they usually build their modular homes as a single unit. 

“In rural areas, typically, space is not a challenge, so we are building larger homes. Some may want basements, some may not. While in urban environments we put in basements and we are building smaller modules.”

He said since these houses have multiple modules to be stacked on top of each other, they are shipping two modules per trailer, and they get stacked on site. Usually, they build a modular home that is shipped as one unit. 

“Once they are put together, they will blend in with the neighbourhood just like any other house. Typically, a neighbourhood would have architectural controls, so we build the house to meet those controls,” said Weste. 

When speaking about the importance of participating in this project, Weste said since the housing market is going through an affordability and shortage crisis, it was important for them to help, as they can provide ready to move in homes within a short amount a time. 

“ATCO has access to old gas sites that are no longer being used, so this was a way to bring those back to the residential fold and getting houses densify on them,” said Weste. 

Matt Vermunt, director of residential development for ATCO land and Viva Homes, said that while touring the Triple M Housing facilities, they saw alignment between the type of modular homes they build and the project ATCO was developing. 

“The stacked home typology is something that Triple M would be able to depart from their core business and splice off and get into it,” said Vermunt. 

He explained that the short-term goal for Viva Homes is to produce turn-key rental developments to help the rental housing market. 

“The near-term for ATCO is to build turn-key rental developments that ATCO would then sell to housing providers. There is a longer-term goal where ATCO could develop, maintain, and operate,” said Vermunt. 

He said right now, in the community of Arbour Lake, located in the northwest end of the city, 16 three-bedroom townhomes and 16 one-bedroom suites are being put together and are expected to be ready for occupancy by early 2026.

“While the modular homes are being developed (at Triple M), our team in Calgary is working on getting the site services, water, sanitary, sewer, power, getting all that in place at the same time,” said Vermunt. “Which is something that conventional construction can’t keep up with.”