BCIT Launches Innovative Prefabrication Teaching Micro-Factory in Burnaby

📅 5 days ago

The British Columbia Institute of Technology has established a pioneering prefabrication teaching micro-factory aimed at training students and Indigenous communities in modern construction methods focusing on low-carbon buildings.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative by establishing a prefabrication teaching micro-factory at its Burnaby campus. This innovative facility is designed to provide hands-on training in advanced construction methods, particularly focusing on the creation of high-performance, low-carbon buildings. Alex Hebert, the director of the Zero Energy and Emissions Buildings (ZEB) Learning Centre, emphasized that the micro-factory will replicate a small-scale production environment where students, industry partners, and Indigenous communities can acquire essential manufacturing skills including lean production, quality assurance, and repeatable construction processes.
The micro-factory is set to facilitate the development of prefabricated wall assemblies and will integrate critical aspects of building science, air-tightness, energy efficiency, and best practices associated with Passive House standards. This initiative also aims to function as a demonstration and training hub that will expedite the adoption of off-site construction techniques throughout British Columbia.
According to Hebert, "Our factory exists and is up and running. It is currently focused on teaching how to make prefab wall assemblies for net-zero homes. This project is a first in B.C., and I have never heard of something like that elsewhere in the world, so perhaps (it is) a first globally, very likely a first in Canada." Hebert further clarified that the aim of the project is not to create a highly automated factory, but rather to showcase a small, affordable, and replicable model of prefabricated construction that can be utilized by smaller builders and, importantly, by rural, remote, and Indigenous communities seeking greater control over their housing production.
Currently, the micro-factory is housed within BCIT’s High Performance Building Lab. Hebert mentioned that this location serves as a temporary solution, enabling the project to become operational quickly by leveraging existing BCIT infrastructure. This approach allows the team to begin developing factory workflows, testing equipment and processes, training instructors, and delivering curriculum while working closely with their first group of students and clients.
The inaugural micro-factory demonstration project is in collaboration with a First Nation client from a remote area of British Columbia. Hebert noted that the concept for the micro-factory originated with the First Nation, leading to a collaborative effort between them and BCIT to bring the idea to fruition. He described the project as an exemplary opportunity to illustrate the objectives of the micro-factory, combining real construction practices with practical training to help build capacity within a remote Indigenous community.
In terms of educational structure, a three-course micro-credential is being developed, tentatively named Prefabricated Construction Workforce Foundations. This credential comprises an introductory course covering the principles of off-site construction, net-zero design fundamentals, factory safety practices, quality assurance, and collaborative production workflows. Additionally, a hands-on course focused on the manufacturing of panelized building components will provide learners with practical experience in creating prefabricated, high-performance wall panels. The final course will address site assembly and project coordination for prefabricated buildings, equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of planning, coordination, site preparation, and assembly.
Currently, the first intake includes four First Nations students. Hebert stated that the next phase involves relocating the micro-factory to a permanent facility at BCIT, which is projected to be a semi-outdoor space measuring approximately 2,500 square feet, complete with a wooden floor, roof, and storage container. Hebert elaborated, "Our longer-term ambition extends beyond BCIT’s Burnaby campus. A fundamental part of the project is Indigenous community capacity building. As part of our commitments, BCIT will visit at least two remote Indigenous communities to bring this equipment knowledge closer to the places where the housing challenge actually exists."
Hebert emphasized the significance of the project in empowering communities to enhance their knowledge, skills, systems, and confidence to take control over their housing futures. He stated, "The micro-factory is therefore as much about people and capacity as it is about buildings and equipment. A prefabricated wall panel coming out of the factory is valuable, but the greater outcome is someone understanding how and why that panel was designed and built, how to reproduce it consistently, and how those skills can contribute to future housing projects in their own community."
The micro-factory initiative is being backed by Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2) through funding from Employment and Social Development Canada. Cebert Adamson, co-chair of the C2R2 steering group, underscored the importance of providing quality housing for individuals in rural and remote Indigenous communities, stating, "They should not have to choose between affordability, durability, comfort, energy efficiency, and quality. We want to demonstrate that homes can be affordable while also being comfortable, healthy, resilient, and capable of achieving net-zero or Passive House levels of performance."

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