RC124 MayJun 2026 - Magazine - Page 31
PCL CONSTRUCTION
Modular and prefabricated construction changes more than
how we build homes—it changes how we deliver projects.
number of experienced players remains small. There are
several reasons for this:
SCALE OF DEMAND. Canada’s modular and prefabrication
market is still young and represents a fraction of total
construction. With fewer projects, fewer companies have
large portfolios of modular and prefabrication experience.
HIGH BARRIERS TO ENTRY. Building modular and prefabricated
housing requires upfront investment in factories,
equipment and technology. Only a limited number of
specialized manufacturers operate at scale, which narrows
the supply base available to owners and builders.
GRADUAL LEARNING CURVE. Modular and prefabricated
construction projects require a di昀昀erent mindset.
Designers, contractors and trades must coordinate factorybuilt and site-built scopes in new ways, which can be
challenging for new teams to grasp and manage.
PROCUREMENT LAG. Until recently, most municipal and
government procurement processes were built around
traditional construction methods. Requests for Proposals
(RFPs), timelines and approval criteria don’t always
昀椀t the realities of modular or prefabricated delivery.
As a result, even experienced teams have limited
opportunities to compete, win work and build up their
modular portfolios.
THE TAKEAWAY: Because the pool of proven modular and
prefabricated construction teams is relatively small,
RENEWCANADA.NET
it’s important to prequalify carefully. Look for modular
or prefabrication expertise alongside a proven track
record of successful delivery. Where expertise is limited,
lean on project delivery advisors who are familiar with
modular construction and collaborative delivery models.
Industry resources like the Modular Building Institute can
also provide guidance on modular construction and
prefabrication best practices.
3. SPEED OVER COST SAVINGS
Many project owners assume modular and prefabricated
construction will be less expensive. In reality, initial costs
often match or slightly exceed those of conventional builds.
The real payo昀昀 lies in speed.
Take BC Hydro’s Mica Studio Dorms project as a case
in point. Located in a remote, mountainous region of
British Columbia, BC Hydro needed to upgrade on-site
accommodations for Mica Generating Station and Dam
employees. A conventional 40-unit build in such a location
could have taken 18 months or more. By adopting a
modular approach, the project team delivered the 昀椀rst 20
units in just eight months—cutting the typical timeline
nearly in half. With a昀昀ordable, social, supportive or
community housing projects, those saved months matter:
they reduce carrying costs, accelerate government funding
approvals tied to delivery, and most importantly, provide
people with homes faster.
MAY/JUNE 2026 – RENEW CANADA 31
