The Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management (LNC) at Ivey Business School is developing a new case study that explores how Promise Robotics is using artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic automation to transform homebuilding. By converting blueprints into production-ready designs and automating fabrication, Promise Robotics delivers homes with greater speed, accuracy, and efficiency.
Canada is facing a substantial housing supply gap that continues to challenge affordability. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), an additional 3.5 million housing units will be required by 2030 to meet market demand and restore affordability. This shortfall is particularly pronounced in large urban centers like Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, where housing supply has not kept pace with population growth. Traditional construction methods are also under strain due to labour shortages, inconsistent material quality, and slow project timelines—issues that policymakers have flagged as critical barriers to expanding housing access.
As the federal election brings housing affordability to the forefront, Promise Robotics offers a compelling example of how technology can help close the gap.
Co-founded by Ramtin Attar and Reza Nasseri, the Calgary-based company has developed a proprietary “Homebuilding Factory-as-a-Service™” (FaaS) platform—a turnkey system that automates the entire building process, from design to final assembly. This flexible system can be deployed in both existing and temporary facilities, on- or off-site, enabling builders to scale without the steep capital or technical requirements typically associated with automation. Its approach further strengthens local economies through the use of regional materials, labour, and supply chains.
By automating the fabrication of framing components and leveraging AI-driven efficiencies, Promise Robotics offers a scalable, technology-driven solution that enhances productivity, making it a crucial step toward meeting provincial and federal homebuilding targets.
“We have committed to developing this case study because housing shortage and affordability is a national crisis for Canada and many other nations,” said Romel Mostafa, Professor and Director of the Lawrence National Centre. “This case will present a valuable opportunity to analyze how emerging AI technology and business innovation can create transformative solutions for the housing sector, while also examining the critical role of policy and key stakeholder collaboration in addressing the national crisis.”
After launching its first facility in Edmonton, Promise Robotics is expanding operations with a new 60,000-square-foot advanced production facility in Calgary, scheduled to open in Summer 2025.
“This new factory marks a major technological and business milestone, strengthening our ability to support our expanding network of homebuilding partners across Canada and the U.S.,” said Ramtin Attar, CEO and Co-Founder of Promise Robotics. “The high cost and complexity of automation have long kept homebuilders from investing in factories but Promise Robotics changes that. Our solution removes capital and expertise barriers, enabling builders to adopt automation and scale production confidently.”
While AI-driven automation offers a powerful pathway to expanding housing supply, improving affordability, and advancing sustainability, unlocking its full potential will require coordinated efforts across all three levels of government and industry, particularly in construction and manufacturing. Promise Robotics’ recent expansion in Calgary is a clear example of that collaboration in action.
“Promise Robotics’ expansion in Calgary strengthens Alberta’s economy and housing sector by bringing advanced AI and robotics to home construction,” said Hon. Matt Jones, Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Trade. “This will create high-quality jobs, support local supply chains, and increase housing production at a time when Alberta needs it most.”
Once completed, the case will be distributed through Ivey Publishing, a globally recognized leader in case-based learning. As part of Ivey Business School, Ivey Publishing distributes case studies to leading academic institutions and executive education programs worldwide. This case will offer students and professionals practical insights and real-world decision-making experience grounded in critical industry challenges.
About Promise Robotics
Promise Robotics is an AI company with a mission to enable the building industry to harness automation, increase efficiency, and tackle regional and national housing shortages to make housing more affordable. The company offers turnkey, ready-to-deploy industrial robotic systems powered by a proprietary cloud-based AI software platform that manages the entire production lifecycle from robotic sequence planning to factory floor operations. Promise Robotics manages the entire automation lifecycle through its proprietary software to allow customers to focus on homebuilding.