About MBI's Canadian Council
The Modular Building Institute's Canadian Council serves as an advisory board on matters of importance to MBI members doing business in Canada. In addition to helping grow MBI's Canadian membership, this Council was established to promote collaboration and support among modular building manufacturers and companies in Canada:
- Provide additional leadership opportunities within MBI for members in Canada.
- Serve as an advisory board to MBI to ensure we are understanding our members’ needs.
- Serve as a forum for best practices and networking activities to be delivered more effectively by MBI.
“As a founding member of the Modular Building Institute’s Canadian Council, it has been very exciting to witness the rate of adoption that modular has experienced since 2017. There is a growing enthusiasm around new methodologies of building and the innovation coming out of Canada is impressive.
Of the many contributions that the council has made, it is the engagement and education of government, financial, and certification bodies such as the Canadian Standards Association (‘CSA’) and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (‘CMHC’) that I am most proud of. Advocating on behalf of the Canadian modular industry is the primary role of our council and something my colleagues and I are very passionate about. We continue to make important headway in our efforts to penetrate the more mainstream construction markets.
The Council has brought a Canadian perspective to MBI on behalf of a contingent that has historically made up a significant portion of MBI’s total membership. In the second largest country in the world, Canadian construction is subject to a wide variety of factors and variables including environment, climate, politics and culture. As a result, geographical representation on the Canadian Council is critical and continues to deliver value to MBI’s Canadian membership.”
-Kevin Read, former Canadian Council chair
Canadian Council Directory
2024 Canadian Industry Report
Canadian Modular Construction Trends
The report highlights a significant shift in housing trends, noting a stable number of new housing starts at around 140,000 units, with a marked transition from single-family homes to apartment complexes. This trend was most pronounced in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto, whereas Montreal and Edmonton saw a decline in overall apartment construction. The top three markets for 2024-25, as forecasted by Construct Connect, are multifamily, healthcare, and educational facilities, combining for an estimated CAD 33-35 billion annually.
International Modular Construction Articles
Safe Modular Construction with Aerofilm Air Caster Transport
In collaboration with Aerofilm Systems, Heijmans developed innovative skids using air caster technology for moving modules easily and safely. These pallets are equipped with an auto-flow system, making operation extremely simple.
How Rebel Concept Harnesses AI as a Design Tool to Improve the DFMA Process
“The complexity of projects and the size of project are so large, and the technology is so complicated that AI would do it so much faster than we are,” says Kris Droszcz, CEO at Rebel Concept. “Everybody’s struggling to control the manufacturing processes according to the design. And I think that’s what AI will do.”
DORÇE Navigates Mountainous Terrain, Extreme Weather to Help Rebuild Türkiye
The February 6 earthquakes in 2023 were enormous. In response, DORÇE moved quickly, obtaining a government bid to help create housing and multipurpose structures—both temporary and permanent—for earthquake victims and laborers hired for reconstruction efforts.
True Modular Building Seeks to Revolutionize Housing. It’s Next Stop: MBI’s World of Modular Europe
True Modular Building (TMB) specializes in crafting attainable, eco-friendly, and comfortable build-to-rent (BTR) housing with modern designs and customizable features, ensuring that residents feel at home both today and tomorrow.
From Toronto to Suriname: A Global Modular Building Story
When I AM Gold – a Canadian gold mining operation based in Toronto, Ontario – wanted to expand its mining operations in Suriname, it knew it would also need to expand its infrastructure. More specifically, they needed to build a mechanical services compound that would allow their local crews to maintain and equipment critical to their mining operations. They also knew that it would be a challenge.
Arctic Security and Sovereignty: The Role of Modular Structures
While the geopolitical challenges in the Arctic are immense, the physical environment of the region presents its own set of obstacles. The harsh climate, extreme weather conditions, and logistical difficulties make it challenging to establish and maintain a sustained presence in the Arctic. In this context, modular structures offer a practical and effective solution, providing the flexibility, speed, and resilience needed for operations in such a remote and hostile environment.
The Digitalization of Offsite Construction: Trends & Best Practices to be Featured at World of Modular Europe
Speakers from around the UK and Europe will be presenting at World of Modular Europe, including Michael Hough, principal at Ireland’s MJH Structural Engineers, and Franco Vietti, associate at Holland-based Green Prefab. Both Hough and Vietti will be sharing—among other things—their insights on the industry based on their 20-plus year careers.
World of Modular Europe to Bring Industry Insights, Expertise to Brussels
Speakers from around the UK and Europe will be presenting at World of Modular Europe, including Michael Hough, principal at Ireland’s MJH Structural Engineers, and Franco Vietti, associate at Holland-based Green Prefab. Both Hough and Vietti will be sharing—among other things—their insights on the industry based on their 20-plus year careers.
Aster Place by ROC Modular
Aster Place, a supportive housing building in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, won the Best of Show Award and Honorable Mention for relocatable structures in the social and supportive housing category at this year’s World of Modular conference.
Touring Japan’s Offsite Construction Industry: An Interview with James Haas, Offsite Construction Sales Manager for Nichiha
Nichiha USA, a premier provider of building envelope solutions and member of the Modular Building Institute (MBI), recently partnered with MBI for a trip to Japan to visit the Nichiha home office in Nagoya as well as several other offsite manufacturers around the country. Besides learning about different offsite building methodologies and systems, the trip was an excellent chance for both MBI and Nichiha to create closer ties with potential industry partners in Japan.
Supply and Demand: Solving Canada’s Housing Crisis One Relocatable Housing Unit at a Time
Not only do Moda Modular’s repurposed employee housing solutions cut the emissions related to construction down to nearly zero, but they also keep building materials that are often not biodegradable from slowly decaying in storage facilities.
It’s the classic environmental mantra of reduce, reuse, and recycle, scaled up and applied to building after building.
26 Stories in 5 Days – How BROAD Sustainable Building is Redefining the Speed of Modular
On January 7, 2024, BROAD Sustainable Building began assembling the new 26-story mixed-use Jindu Residential Tower. On January 11, just five days later, construction was completed.
For True Modular Building, Sustainability is Part of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
For Carel van Duuren, the 71-year-old CEO of True Modular Building, sustainability is more than just his legacy—he’s thinking about the future of society at large. How do you make things infinitely repeatable and simple? How can you make sure you’re contributing to the economy without adding extra waste or using increasingly precious resources? And how can you do this, and quickly?
Hage’s Badehotel — Case Study — Denmark
For this project, Forta PRO delivered 72 buildings, 144 modules, with 5,200 m2 of gross modular area. With final onsite completion in June 2023, it provides exceptional long-stay accommodation in a stunning and serene environment.
Unity Malmö – New Student Housing in Southern Sweden from Forta PRO
The city of Malmö in southern Sweden is set to welcome a new student housing project Unity Malmö, comprised of 5 building blocks, 450 micro-living apartments, where Forta PRO delivered 269 modules, total of 9,671.9 m2.
Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Solutions from DMDmodular
DMDmodular has recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing a relevant energy-efficient housing project, fully financed by EU funds, that tackles the industry’s most pressing challenges.
homeD: On a Mission to Improve Affordable Housing in Canada
homeD’s mission is to alleviate homelessness and in British Columbia and they’ve developed unique modular housing products to that end. The company also embraces a strong social justice ethic, providing solutions for marginalized communities who face housing challenges, and is aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Modular Hotel Room Prototype Shows Global Investors the Speed and Versatility of Modular Building
Forta PRO, a modular building manufacturer in Latvia, recently partnered with Marriott to create a modular hotel room based on their current design, Moxy. The two connected in Copenhagen in 2019, when Marriott expressed an interest in creating a mock-up to show investors the quality available through modular construction techniques. The stand-alone room is currently located in Frankfurt and is available for investors to visit.
PROMET: Providing Award-Winning Workforce Housing in Chile & Beyond
South America is a mining powerhouse, producing a substantial amount of the world’s silver, copper, tin, zinc, lithium, and nickel, and the mining industry requires a substantial amount of infrastructure to operate. That infrastructure includes workforce housing and office space that modular builders such as PROMET provide.
Turkish Manufacturer Has Long History of Responding to Disaster
On February 6, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked southern and central Turkey, killing over 2,300 people and injuring 10,000 more. DORCE responded with the force of its huge production capacity, dedicating all their abilities to producing emergency houses for those displaced by the disaster with help from AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkish Republic).