< PreviousSince the sixties gave rise to space exploration, we have had a fascination with the detailed mapping, understanding, and prospect of habitability of it. Science fiction has long been a fan of building worlds where space travel and set- tlements are the norm. While, until now, these stories have been just that; fiction, it seems as though the construction world is set to become even more exciting. In a fascinating mix of technology and construction know-how, the idea of permanent structures in space are closer than ever. NASA’s Artemis Mission is a project that is on track to making deep space travel and exploration a reality. “Artemis I is the first integrated test of NASA’s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the ground systems at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I is an uncrewed flight test that will provide a foun- dation for human deep space exploration and demonstrate our commitment and capability to return humans to the Moon and extend beyond.” In an example of just how trans- formative this could be, it seems the potential of the mission is limitless. “With Artemis I, NASA sets the stage for human exploration into deep space, where astronauts will build and begin testing the systems near the Moon needed for lunar surface missions and exploration to other destinations far- ther from Earth, including Mars. With Artemis, NASA will col- laborate with industry and international partners to establish long-term exploration for the first time.” So, what does this all mean? According to NASA’s Steve Creech, the goal is to progress further than we ever have before. “Apollo was awesome, but a lot of it was to just prove that we could do it. I’m not saying it wasn’t important, but this time we want to do it in a way that’s sustainable and that leads to next steps.” While the answer may not be entirely clear, it seems as though the construction industry will soon be tasked with meeting demands more stringent and com- plex than ever before. In fact, much preparatory work has already been taking place in recent years. Space construction has been taking place for quite some time. With repair work and similar projects taking place on satellites, scientists are well aware of the challenging conditions that are involved in these endeavors. The European Space Agency (ESA) has been conducting studies and research into the challenging conditions that would be faced by construction materials used outside of earth’s atmosphere. “To get the range on the Moon, you need mobility systems, the crew can’t go very far on foot. The science we want to do is in a lot of locations around the Moon, the goal is to build systems that would be capable of month-long or better excursions.” However, according to Aidan Cowley, scientific advisor at ESA, it is this extended period of time that proves the most challeng- ing. “You’re dealing with three major challenges – radiation, temperature extremes and meteorite impacts. On the Moon you’re exposed to solar radiation and cosmic rays at a much more dangerous dose level and temperatures can range from Photo by NASA/Kim Shiflett | 10 MAY 2023100C (212F) in the day to -180C (-292F) at night. Then, all you need to do is look at the Moon and you see its craters; it’s being constantly pelted by micrometeorite impacts, and this essentially ablates and damages anything on the surface over time.” The good news in this regard is that the construction industry has developed materials capable of withstanding these con- ditions. From transparent aluminum to 3D Graphene, the work has already been done in this regard. One barrier, however, is the transportation and cost of sending these materials to such a hostile environment. That is why, according to Cowley, it is vital that technology it utilized in combination with locally sourced materials. “If you look at the history of our civiliza- tion, every time we move to a new location, a new continent, we look around to find what resources are there and we use them to sustain ourselves,” says Cowley. “This is how we pro- liferated across the planet.” By using naturally occurring lunar resources such as minerals, sunlight and water ice, projects can move from potential to reality. In addition, according to Rachel Klima from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, it is vital that the concept of waste should no longer be tolerated. “If you really want to do it for the long term, we need to make the most of every resource that we bring or extract. If you have waste heat, use the heat for something… if you have waste metal when you’re trying to create oxygen, use the metal… if you have waste scrap metal, use the scrap metal,” says Klima. “You don’t want to trash things up!” The thought of using local materials such as rock and ice brings to mind thoughts of very basic, and unhospitable structures. The truth is considerably more dynamic and excit- ing. ICON, the Texan 3D structure printing company that spe- cializes in advanced construction tech was recently awarded a $57.2 million contract to develop ‘Olympus,’ a 3D-printing system that could be used for building on both the Moon and Mars by using local materials. According to ICON CEO Jason Ballard, the potential benefits are incredible. “Olympus will allow us to build all the elements of infrastructure necessary for a lunar outpost and ultimately a moon base. This is launch and landing pads, roadways, habitats, you name it — all the things we need on the moon.” With further plans for using lunar rock and 3D printed pave- ments to create a road and infrastructure network on the Moon, it seems as though the plans are growing exponen- tially by the day. What was once science fiction is now much more than that. The collaborative efforts of the construction and scientific fields are ensuring that human life is on the cusp of its most advanced development ever. While change and growth on earth may always be the primary goal of the industry, it is always reassuring to know that the industry continues to dream big. “By using naturally occurring lunar resources such as minerals, sunlight and water ice, projects can move from potential to reality.” | 11 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY MANUELA ARMINI W hat do an oil extraction camp in Alberta and a five- story apartment block in Vancouver Island have in common? On the surface, not much. The truth is, however, that they are more similar than they may seem. In this case, both facilities are made of modular units, a build- ing method that represents a more cost effective and faster alternative to traditional construction. This technology might sound like a novelty, but modular buildings have been around for almost two centuries. Modular units are fully fitted and furnished rooms – or boxes - that can be combined to build any kind of facility. Edmonton-based company Northgate Industries has been in this business for over half a century, harnessing the potential of modular structures for industrial, commercial, civil, and residential purposes. | 12 MAY 2023The company President, Cheryl Watt, explains that one of the most significant benefits of modular units is its short pro- duction and installation timelines. Improved production and installation saves 30-50% on schedule deadlines in compar- ison to regular site construction. The units are built indoors in a controlled environment. This ensures that a project can be completed in a single location while being sheltered from potentially harsh weather conditions. In addition, once the wooden units are built, they don’t need to be disassembled and reassembled, but they can be transported to the installa- tion site as they are. Modular units are very popular among industrial and construction companies working in remote areas where hotels, multi-family housing and other facilities are scarce. They are the perfect solution to set up entire temporary camps, including offices, accommodations, workout rooms, restrooms, medical centers, and any other indoor space the workers might need. Once the job on a site is finished, the units can be transported to the next site. However, as Watt explains, there is more to modular buildings than tempo- rary facilities. The advent of permanent modular structures has allowed Northgate Industries to successfully use this construction system to build schools, hotels, and social housing. “(We) can bring it in quickly and in difficult areas. So, bringing modular (to the city) makes perfect sense.” The construction of small and affordable residential units in overcrowded cities where inflation is skyrocketing sounds indeed like a perfect marriage. Northgate Industries was founded by Dutch immigrant Sid Braaksma in Alberta in 1970. Initially, its business was limited to servicing and leasing industrial modular units. In 1976, Braaksma brought Northgate Industries to the next level by inaugurating a manufacturing plant for modular structures. This addition allowed the company to diversify its business and take on big projects building industrial trailers and full industrial camps. | 13 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONOver a few short years, the manufacturing business grew exponentially, creating the need for additional space. In the early 80s, the company moved into a 40,000-square-foot facility and in 1986, Northgate Industries was awarded the first of many international contracts to manufacture modu- lar structures for a US military base in Nevada. Soon after, Braaksma decided to open a second manufacturing facility, this time in Poland, from which Northgate Industries supplies modular buildings to various locations worldwide up to this day. Watt is Braaksma’s daughter, and she remembers how her father had recognized the versatility and capabilities of modular buildings from the beginning. “My dad was very much an entrepreneur. He started with one avenue and from there he branched out.” The company kept growing through- out the 90’s, serving mainly Canada’s oil and gas companies. In 1991, it opened its first turn-key camp solution in Calling Lake, Alberta, and in 1999 it moved into an even bigger man- ufacturing site on Yellowhead Trail. By 2010, the company had added yet another facility in Acheson, bringing its total manufacturing space to 200,000 square feet. While most Northgate Industries’ customers come from the oil and gas industry, in the early 2000’s, the company started looking at the residential and social housing market. “Northgate Industries provides its clients with full-service solutions, from design and manufacturing to transportation and installation.” | 14 MAY 2023CALGARY OFFICE UNIT 15, 7503 – 35TH STREET SE CALGARY, ALBERTA, T2C 1V3 403-243-2792 OAKVILLE OFFICE 3-2425 WYECROFT RD. OAKVILLE, ONTARIO, L6L 6R5 905-845-7558 YOUR HVAC SPECIALISTS FOR YOUR MODULAR DESIGNS PARTNER WITH GLP CANADA FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECTS! INFO GLPCANADA.COM | GLPCANADA.COM During this period, the company built its first modular apart- ments, a four-story apartment building in Edmonton which was a first for Edmonton. Since the late 80’s Northgate had worked on projects with a wide variety of requirements. From permanent modular and single-family homes to apartments, two-story office complexes and a First Nation health center, the list is endless. In 2020, Northgate focused primarily on the permanent modular side of the business. Recently in 2021, Northgate manufactured five apartments for Social Housing where each building comprised of one-bedroom, studio suites, and barrier-free modular units, totaling over 33,500 square feet. Northgate Industries provides its clients with full-service solutions, from design and manufacturing to transportation and installation. By working completely indoors, the pro- duction process allows the company to keep materials in a controlled environment, maintain stringent quality control and assurance systems, and minimize waste. In addition, it grants employees a safer and more comfortable work environment. Clients benefit because working on-site allows for less disruption for the residents, safer conditions for the crew, while being less environmentally damaging. | 15 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONLagrange Mechanical Services LTD is a proudly Albertan company with a far reach to complete even the most remote and challenging projects. With a team of steadfast and efficient Plumbers, HVAC techs, Electricians and Carpenters we can meet any client’s modular needs. Additionally, our in-house team manufactures the highest caliber water sewage storage and pumping units plus mobile fire water pumphouses. 780-968-1782 | 970 Boulder Blvd, Stony Plain, AB | E: info@lagrangemechanical.com | lagrangemechanical.com The production schedule for permanent modular units can be up to 50% quicker than in traditional construction, depending on the purpose of the building. This is made pos- sible by building and servicing the site's foundation at the same time that the units are being manufactured in North- gate Industries' facility. Once ready, the units are trucked to the site and lifted into place. "A five-story building usually takes about five days," says Watt. "If somebody wants to buy a hotel or apartment, they can install it quite quickly on colder days as well. You have people in the colder elements for a shorter period of time." Thanks to this cost-effective construction system, North- gate Industries has been involved in many social housing projects. One of the most recent was a five-story apart- ment in Duncan, Vancouver Island. The company was also involved in another remarkable permanent modular project for producing a state-of-the-art office complex in Manitoba. The 3,600 square feet building features a pitched roof with vaulted ceilings, a common area with a kitchenette, parti- tion walls with glass inserts, a boardroom with a folding glass wall, offices, and washrooms. The exterior will have a modern look thanks to Hardie board sidings and triple panel windows, while the interior will sport a dropped ceiling. The | 16 MAY 2023 complex is made of 4 units in total that were loaded onto trucks and delivered to their new home 1,100 km away from Northgate Industries' facility, where the installation crew completed the job on site. In terms of longevity, these permanent modular structures have the same life span as traditional buildings. "It does take slightly more materials, but you've got a stronger structure. So, in my opinion, it would last longer than a standard con- struction," says Watt. "At the end, the units are put together. So, you've actually got two walls instead of one wall system." With fast production time, affordable costs, ease of transporta- tion and installation in remote as well as in very busy areas, per- manent modular ticks all the boxes to become a mainstream construction system. In particular, Watt sees enormous poten- tial in the social housing market in Canada and worldwide with the huge shortage of housing in Canada and the US. Looking to the future, Northgate Industries has plans to further expand its permanent modular business in the US and Northwest Ter- ritories and is also considering the acquisition of an additional manufacturing plant. "We're 140 employees wanting to keep that legacy (Braaksma's) going and head off into permanent modular as well." With a process that is streamlined for suc- cess, you wouldn’t bet against them. WRITTEN BY JAMES O’NOLAN I n business, success hinges on a number of factors. While quality service and volume are often the key consider- ations, there are others that are sometimes overlooked. For Territorial Electric, an employee owned company based in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta in Western Canada, striving to provide quality service at a fair price lies at the heart of its business outlook. Territorial Electric has been providing top-notch electrical services to Edmonton and the surrounding areas since it was established in 1980 by Don Daly. His mission was to provide quality workmanship while always acknowledging the responsibility he had to his cus- tomers. In an example of how Territorial Electric sits at odds with much of the industry, Daly chose to apply a principal of fairness in all his dealings, price included. This core value, something that permeates through everything Territorial Electric does, led to him subsequently opening the business up for part ownership opportunities to his employees. Today the company is overseen by Justin Kowalevsky, Vice President of Operations, and Pat Logan, Vice Presi- dent of Projects. Starting out as an apprentice in the com- pany, Kowalevsky learned the ropes by plying his trade in the field, while later moving into the role of estimator and design consultant in 2015. He subsequently took control of the company with his business partner Logan in Feb- ruary of 2022. | 18 MAY 2023Next >