The operators of St. Albert’s North Ridge Lodge will celebrate the grand opening of its multi-million dollar addition on Thursday.
While it feels like the wait has been long, it’s actually been much shorter than usual thanks to a new modular construction method employed by the builders to create the addition, which has been named North Ridge Place.
“It seems like it’s been a long time coming. I’m very excited,” said Marguerite Bosvik, executive director of the Sturgeon Foundation, the non-profit organization that operates the lodge.
The province contributed $8 million to the $12-million addition, which is the fulfilment of a long-time goal of Bosvik’s.
“It was a long time in the planning,” she said.
The development, which added 48 affordable housing units, employed a modular construction system. While the foundation was being poured and prepped, the living units were being built in a Barrhead factory. The units are self-contained but residents have access to meals and light housekeeping.
The project got approval in early February of last year, broke ground in mid-May and finished pouring the foundation in last August.
It was completed just seven months after construction began, though residents didn’t start moving in until the end of March. So far reviews have been good.
“It’s great. A few glitches but nothing major and talking with some of the clients that have moved in, they seem to be very happy,” Bosvik said.
“It’s doing what it was supposed to do. It’s meeting my expectations.”
The modular construction process reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 43 per cent over conventional construction, according to an analysis completed by Dr. Mohamed Al-Hussein, an associate professor of construction engineering and management from the University of Alberta.
Bosvik is working on a funding application for a second phase addition that would add 42-units for adults with disabilities.
The grand opening is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday Aug. 12 at 10 Mont Clare Place. The public is welcome to attend.
