In a first for the city, Edmonton will proceed with the construction of affordable housing apartment block units to be built primarily out of recycled shipping containers. Built using a series of repurposed steel shipping containers assembled block by block like a Lego creation, the proposed low-rise apartment at Westgate Manor could very well become a new standard for the construction of affordable housing not only in Edmonton by across North America.

Rendering of shipping container-built apartments, image via Step Ahead Properties

To be built by Calgary-based Ladacor for the Edmonton-based Step Ahead Properties, the planned 20-unit apartment block will contain a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, which according to project lead AJ Slivinski, will produce a savings anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 when compared to the use of more traditional materials and building techniques. Set to go up in the West End neighbourhood of Glenwood, the rental units will be made available at a currently undecided below market rate, a welcome addition within a city that has been experiencing an explosion of urban development over the last few years.

SkyriseEdmonton will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.