Sakku Innovative Building SolutionsSA国际影视传媒� (SIBS) recent sale of 22 modular units to the Nunavut Housing Corporation (NHC) represents another big moment for a company that some believe could change the complexion of the construction industry in the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is what we aim to do: Start changing the landscape of the construction industry in Nunavut,SA国际影视传媒� said Guillaume Guida, vice-president of Sakku Investments Corporation, the Inuit-owned corporation behind SIBS.

NHC and SIBS announced the deal in a joint news release on June 6.

Roughly two thirds of the 22 units, which will be built in Quebec, will be shipped to the communities of Arviat, Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, Arctic Bay, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak and Cambridge Bay. There, they will be installed by NCC Development Limited (NCCD), and used as temporary accommodations for workers who are building 132 new public housing units.

The remaining eight units will be sent to Sanirajak, Kinngait, Sanikiluaq and Pangnirtung, where the Department of Family Services (DFS) will use them for transitional housing, staff accommodation, and other important functions.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese units were really designed for the purpose theySA国际影视传媒檙e going to use right now, which is construction workers groups and then conversion into affordable housing or another type of use,SA国际影视传媒� Guida said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e not the same thing as a single family home exactly. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 been some adjustment to the design so that they have that flexibility.SA国际影视传媒�

Weather permitting, the units will be ready for occupants within weeks of their arrivals in the aforementioned communities.

SA国际影视传媒淭he main advantage is that once they arrive to the site, they only take about four weeks to set up before theySA国际影视传媒檙e move-in ready,SA国际影视传媒� Guida said. SA国际影视传媒淐onsidering the short construction season [in Nunavut], this allows the work to be done ahead of time in the factory, during the winter season. At the end of the day that means you have more units available in the North faster.SA国际影视传媒�

SIBS made a splash last year when it produced two prototype five-plexes, which were constructed in collaboration with RG Solutions Quebec and later shipped to Arviat and installed there.

The whole process took the company less than 10 months.

SA国际影视传媒淭he average currently, with traditional construction methods, is about 18 to 24 months for one [five-plex],SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪o itSA国际影视传媒檚 more than twice the speed.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hat was our pilot project. We will certainly get faster as we gain experience.SA国际影视传媒�

SIBS is currently building a factory in Arviat, similar to the one that it has been using in Quebec. It is expected to open in 2025, at which point it will become the companySA国际影视传媒檚 construction headquarters. The bulk of its workforce will be made up by locals.

The heated factory, which will run year-round, will also house a training centre, where people will prepare for jobs with SIBS, or with other construction outfits across the territory.

Guida considers that a SA国际影视传媒渕ore importantSA国际影视传媒� function than the construction itself.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is where we aim to to do things differently than other construction companies,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淥ur training centre will be training apprentices, getting new people into the market every three to four years, depending on the trade. We are doing this while manufacturing quality houses. Plus, we do this all year round.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 how we feel weSA国际影视传媒檙e bringing something different to the table to help resolve the housing crisis,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭raining for Inuit by Inuit, and homes built for Inuit by Inuit.SA国际影视传媒�

SIBSSA国际影视传媒� ambitious plans have been met with some skepticism SA国际影视传媒� particularly given the price tag of the Arviat facility, which has been adjusted from $30 million to roughly $50 million in the wake of the pandemic.

If SIBS is able to deliver the 22 units it sold to NHC as planned, it will certainly quiet some of its doubters, but Guida believes the company has already proven itself.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think weSA国际影视传媒檝e already shown a lot of people what we can do with our two five-plexes,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he quality of the product weSA国际影视传媒檝e done so far speaks for itself.SA国际影视传媒�