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Build Canada Homes: Driving Real Solutions to Canada's Housing Crisis

September 15, 2025
•
Engineering

Build Canada Homes: Driving Real Solutions to Canada's Housing Crisis

Looking at Ottawa's commitment to double housing construction across the country.

On September 14, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Build Canada Homes, a new federal agency tasked with accelerating the delivery of affordable housing nationwide. Backed by $13 billion in funding, the program will begin with 4,000 modular homes on public land in six cities—including Edmonton—with the capacity to scale to 45,000.

This initiative is part of Ottawa’s commitment to double housing construction across the country. Working alongside provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, and private developers, the agency will deliver affordable, supportive, and community housing at a scale Canada urgently needs.

With an estimated 3.2 million new homes required by 2035 to restore affordability, Build Canada Homes is both a bold necessity and a unique opportunity.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆

Delivering housing at this scale requires more than policy—it requires modular solutions that are fast, repeatable, and cost-effective, paired with engineering that doesn’t compromise quality.

That’s where Design Works Engineering brings unique value. We’re recognized as one of Canada’s leaders in modular design, with experience delivering housing, hotels, and community projects that prove modular can be both efficient and beautiful.Combined with our multidisciplinary approach—structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, fire protection, and energy modelling under one roof—we provide a one-stop partner for governments and developers. This integration reduces delays, eliminates coordination gaps, and ensures modular projects move from concept to completion faster and smoother.

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲

“Canada’s housing crisis won’t be solved by policy alone—it will be solved by execution. Modular is the future of fast, affordable housing—and it’s an area where Design Works has deep expertise. Build Canada Homes is an opportunity to rethink how we deliver homes at scale, and I believe multidisciplinary firms with modular experience are the key to making it happen. By bringing all engineering disciplines together, we help ensure projects are faster, more efficient, and ultimately more affordable for Canadians.”
— Haydar Al Dahhan, P.Eng., P.E., IntPE, APEC, MIET
‍President & CEO, Design Works Engineering

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱

With projects already identified in Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Toronto, Longueuil, and Dartmouth, Build Canada Homes sets the tone for the next decade of housing delivery in Canada.

For Design Works Engineering, this is about more than new projects—it’s about building smarter, modular solutions that restore affordability, strengthen communities, and meet the growing demand for housing nationwide.

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