Resource World Magazine

j u n e / j u l y 2 0 1 5 www.resourceworld.com 47 MININGWORLD Since 2008, ATCO Structures & Logistics, an ATCO Group [ACO.X, ACO.Y-TSX] com- pany, has expanded to go beyond building industrial work camps to providing a turn- key solution that meets all the needs a community may require. The housing modules themselves have been improved. The design has evolved from the familiar work camp modules that line up to create a long corridor of bed- rooms that share a washroom and shower. The enhanced building design does not actually make for a much larger camp foot- print. Where before, a camp might have been made up of 38 modules, it might now take up to 48 modules to ensure that each occupant has access to a private wash- room. Or, perhaps, occupants might share a washroom with their neighbour only. The design changes have resulted in such significant improvements they are now understandably referred to as lodges rather than camps. The modules' interiors have been rede- signed to have a much less industrial feel. This was accomplished by consulting inte- rior designers who made improvements that include the use materials such as wood and incorporating much more wel- coming textures which definitely gives the spaces a much warmer feel. ATCO's longer term facilities can include some attractive amenities: gym- nasiums, running tracks, squash courts, hockey rinks, swimming pools, movie theatres and driving ranges. In fact, ATCO facilities often include fitness centres with a full range of equipment and games rooms where residents can play a game of bil- liards, darts or table tennis. Many of these improvements are a result of a push from companies with projects in the oil sands competing for and trying to retain employees. ATCO can also provide facility opera- tion and maintenance that covers just about any service a small city may require: road maintenance, grounds keeping and pest control. A company can have ATCO maintain and manage their computer system, pro- vide administrative support, housing staff and site security. ATCO can provide fire-fighting services as well as medical services. They can provide professional teams to manage those emergency services as well as vehicles and equipment. Waste management is another service that ATCO can take care of. ATCO can also manage a fuel supply depot large enough to run a remote com- munity. The company currently manages a project with a 1.5 million litre above ground fuel farm, vehicle and aircraft refu- elling in Moose Jaw. A company can even utilize ATCO's housekeeping services that include daily cleaning of occupied rooms, bed mak- ing and changing, garbage removal and dusting. Currently, ATCO is building a lodge at Carmon Creek, a Peace River project with Shell, at a heavy oil project that will house ~1,200 employees. That project is cur- rently under construction with two phases built and third of the project left to go. It is expected that the project, that includes a 200-person office and a gym and a water treatment plant will be completed this year. Besides serving the resource industry ATCO serves the military and large con- struction projects. ATCO also builds lodges over which they maintain ownership while renting out blocks of rooms to companies. A big part of ATCO's success has to do with their social license. Almost every ATCO project has participation from First Nations. This is not a catch-up game for ATCO; they work with First Nations well in advance to establish partnerships and to inform them so they can avail themselves of the benefits of participating in projects. ATCO makes IBAs work (Impact Benefit Agreements). In some cases First Nations are partners with significant ownership of ATCO assets. On April 30, 2015, ATCO announced that is has been "chosen as the preferred proponent by BC Hydro to manufac- ture, install and operate a 1,600-person workforce housing facility for workers con- structing the Site C Clean Energy Project on the Peace River in northeast BC. ATCO will also provide a full suite of lodge-related services including catering, janitorial, maintenance, medical and fire protection." n ATCO's community lodges by Kathrine Moore An ATCo Structures & Logistics lodge interior. Photo courtesy of ATCo Structures & Logistics.

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