BC Hydro has chosen its “preferred proponent” to build the housing facilities and provide catering for workers on the Site C Clean Energy Project in northeast British Columbia, the Crown corporation announced April 30.
The contract has not yet been officially awarded to Two Rivers Housing Group, which is comprised of Calgary-headquartered ATCO Structures & Logistics and Bird Construction of Mississauga, but this is expected to take place in late summer.
“Our ability to deliver a turn-key solution that covers both the building and operation of large workforce facilities provides our customers with efficiencies and cost benefits, ATCO president George Lidgett said.
“When combined with our product quality and commitment to offering the best possible experience for workers at remote sites, we set ourselves apart within our industry.
(Image: rendering of bedroom in Site C workcamp. Courtesy of ATCO)
The lodging, expected to be completed in 2016, will be able to accommodate 1,600 workers during the construction of the dam project near Peace River. It will have a movie theater, licensed lounge, gym and running track.
ATCO will also provide janitorial and maintenance services, as well as fire and medical protection, with an agreement that this will stretch until 2022.
“The quality of worker accommodation is a key component of the project’s labour approach to attract and retain workers in what is expected to be a period of high demand for skilled workers,” BC Hydro said in a release.
This is not the first time ATCO has been involved in providing lodging for workers in large B.C. projects. It has also built a 600-person facility for the Kitimat LNG project and a 1,200-person housing building for the Rio Tinto Alcan smelter modernization project.
