Hudson’s Hope | Hudson Hope, British Columbia

The Hudson’s Hope Housing project was developed to provide modern, durable, and livable accommodations for the staff of BC Hydro who work at some of Canada’s most significant hydroelectric projects:

The W.A.C. Bennett Dam, the largest earth-filled dam in the world at the time of construction
The Peace Canyon Dam on the Peace River
The Site C Dam, currently under construction nearby

Located in the remote northern community of Hudson’s Hope, British Columbia, this project was essential for attracting and retaining skilled workers in a challenging environment with a harsh climate and limited housing options. The site sits in a region with a short construction season, prompting the project team to turn to modular construction to ensure speed, quality, and resilience.

The project was delivered under two concurrent 5-year service agreements — one for design and one for construction — through a highly collaborative partnership between BC Hydro Properties (BCHP) and Omicron, an integrated design-build firm. This approach allowed for early contractor involvement, shared risk, and a unified understanding of project goals from the very beginning — hallmarks of an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)-like model.

The development includes:

A two-storey, 20-unit modular apartment building featuring one-bedroom plus den and two-bedroom layouts
Ten semi-detached three-bedroom townhomes for families
Onsite surface and underground parking
Landscaped outdoor recreation areas and provisions for northern lifestyles (e.g., trailer, RV, snowmobile parking)

The project was driven not just by the need for functional housing but by a vision for community living in a remote area. Design considerations focused on long-term livability, energy performance, and low-maintenance durability, anticipating a 75-year lifespan for the homes.

Guerdon Modular Buildings of Idaho supplied prefabricated modules for the project. Despite a transportation distance of nearly 2,000 km, the modules were delivered with just-in-time precision and installed efficiently under the supervision of Guerdon’s onsite team.

The modular approach enabled the team to:

Maintain construction progress year-round
Minimize reliance on limited local trades
Address the region’s short building season
Deliver finished units that included pre-installed kitchens, bathrooms, and appliances

Interior finishes balanced comfort with durability, while HVAC systems and materials were selected for reliability and ease of maintenance under harsh northern conditions.

Omicron’s vertically integrated team of designers, engineers, and construction managers worked in a collaborative “big room” style — co-located under one roof — allowing for real-time problem solving, reduced miscommunication, and faster decision-making. The team also conducted multiple design open houses with end users to ensure the housing met the specific needs of BC Hydro staff and their families.

The project was completed in April 2015, just two months behind schedule despite the complexity and remote setting. The final cost came in at $11.3 million, slightly above the original estimate due to changes in module pricing between planning and execution phases.

Click the button below to download a pdf of the BC Hydro Workforce Housing:
BC Hydro Hudsons Hope Workforce Housing.pdf