Ontario Construction News staff writer
Stack Modular and Bird Construction have been recognized with a first-place award from the Modular Building Institute in the “Permanent Modular Hotel Over 10,000 sq. ft.” category for the Aqsarniit Hotel and Conference Centre.
The award-winning property is owned by the wholly Inuit-owned Qikiqtaaluck Business Development Corporation.
The full-service energy-efficient hotel is 100 percent Inuit-owned and equipped with 94 rooms, a 5,000 sq. ft. conference centre, lounge, restaurant, gym, spa, and commercial space. It marks a significant milestone for Stack and Bird, completing their first project as partners, and delivering a sophisticated turnkey modular construction solution with an integrated conventional build.
“It was exciting to see our first project come to life alongside our partner, Bird. Being recognized on a global scale through this prestigious award signifies our unique value offering,” said Stack CEO Jim Dunn. “Our modular solution significantly reduced the cost of a site-built budget and reduced the total schedule, which supported an attractive ROI projection for our client.”
Off-site modular construction allowed the team to mitigate the risk of weather delays by completing 80 per cent of the hotel suites’ construction in Stack’s manufacturing facilities, instead of onsite.
Despite the offsite components, local community engagement was a key priority for Stack and Bird. Site construction was supported by a local work force for the execution of the ground floor area, conference centre, and exterior building envelope. The hotel will continue to deliver local benefits to the community through permanent, long-term, local employment.
“Everything from the steel frame to the internal fixtures was pre-fabricated in the Canadian-owned advanced manufacturing facilities, and shipped to the worksite,” said Graham Finch, principal and senior building science specialist at RDH Building Science, an international engineering firm. “On the site, the completed hotel was assembled in just nine days, making it incredibly efficient when compared to other building methods.”
Inspired by Inuit culture, the design is an asymmetrical structure clad with LED-illuminated glass and steel that pays homage to the Northern Lights, captivating the imaginations of locals and visitors alike.
One of the more challenging components of the build was engineering it to meet the highest energy efficiency standards in one of the world’s coldest climates. Stack and Bird designed the structure with outboard insulation that optimizes thermal performance and assists in creating an energy-efficient building envelope that is not only environmentally friendly, but also reduces annual energy costs by about 10 per cent.
“Our vision is simple. We want to solve common industry challenges,” said Dunn. “Through our flexible overhead model, and ability to complete most of the work in a factory-like setting while concurrently completing site-built components, we can reduce exposure to market risks and enable better quality-control mechanisms.”
Stack’s buildings are designed with the same materials as traditional construction and are engineered to meet the same building code and architectural specifications. Once assembled, they are virtually indistinguishable from conventional construction.
As the North American construction sector continues to face skilled labour challenges and rising costs, Stack and Bird are providing the industry with alternative solutions by leveraging rapid delivery, and modular construction for hospitality, student and senior residences, long-term care facilities, mid to high-rise multi-family residential apartments, and workforce accommodations.
“This hotel is a great example of an innovative, socially, and environmentally responsible build, incorporating local labour, constructing with a low waste method, and delivering a highly energy efficient solution,” said Teri McKibbon, president and CEO of Bird. “The completion of this project is just the first of many that demonstrate our turnkey modular builds can rival the most advanced onsite projects without compromise.”