b'MODULAR HOUSINGvisionary entrepreneur of Coast Salish (Shshlh) descent, Richards was first intro-duced to modular construction when she was recruited in 2018 to manage stake-holder relations for a modular company. I fell in love with modular and saw that it was going to be part of the future of construction and that it was a valuable instrument of social change, Richards says. [But] I also observed that it was antiquatedthat modular had come out of the work-camp sector in oil and gas, was very basic by design and had more potential than was being utilized. Inbroadterms,modularconstruc-tioninvolvesproducingpre-assem-bled building components at an off-site factory and then assembling them on site. Richards realized that, while most modular construction in Canada was being applied to very basic, temporary buildings, it had much greater potentialespecially in remote Indigenous communities. She wanted to tap into this. Building more sophisticated modular [units] with better materials could lead to more comfort-able, higher-quality structures, and could be a powerful tool for responding to Indigenous housing needs in Canada, she says. I like to call modular the Tesla of construction. Its a far more efficient way to build.Using the skills of a dozen full-time employees, along with outside collabo-rators when required, NUQO offers a fullThe 80-unit community housing project onSquamish Nation territory will include the 30-unit spectrum of servicesfrom planning andeskkxwi7ch tla Spkwus place and will incorporate Indigenous elements in its designdesign, to manufacturing and installation. The companys fabrication and assemblyoccupancy and reduces the financingthe COVID-19 pandemic erupted. As the of modular building units takes place inperiod, resulting in substantial cost savings.world locked down and expected funding an off-site factory, using the same mate- vanished, Richards stepped into the role rials and following the same constructionComparing dollar for dollar on a construc- of CEOsomething she had not antici-standards as traditional building elements,tion budget, modular will not save youpated, since the companys original budget but in a climate-controlled environment.money. It will, however, save you time,had included the hiring of an outside NUQO does not own its manufacturingwhich means not only will [you] haveCEO. Richards had previously launched facilities, but instead sources space insooner occupancywhich in a commer- a successful retail chain in Montreal, but existing factories as needed. cial project means faster revenueit willnever a construction business. MANY ADVANTAGES reduce the period of time you are financing. This modular method has numerousAnd with interest rates increasing at a rapidNonetheless, the conceptand Richards advantages. One is the near eliminationpace, that can amount to serious savings.confidence in promoting itwas quickly of building-site waste, which is especiallyTime is money, Richards says. attracting attention, and contracts soon significant in remote and rural locations.followed.Inparticular,herproduct Another is that modular units lend them- Richards founded NUQO Modular inappealed to Indigenous housing devel-selves to being reused, unlike most otherWest Vancouver on the traditional terri- opers. Weve spent a lot of time in building materials. It also maximizes thetory of the Coast Salish peoples withdialogue with various Indigenous housing effectiveness of a limited workforceathe goal of designing high-quality steelstakeholders, identifying what hasnt critical factor given the current labourmodular buildings. Her business plan wasworked historically and what is appropriate shortages. Most importantly, modularsolid, but her timing wasnt as fortuitous:to be building for Indigenous people in the assembly saves time, which speeds upNUQO launched barely a week beforefuture, and defining culturally appropriate Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT55'