A Langley-based business that I've written about often over the years, Britco - the ones that brought us the last umpteen PNE prize homes and the 2010 Olympic athlete village, as an example - is ending the year on an incredibly high note.

The company has not only landed the biggest contract in its 35-year history - worth more than $200 million - it has also announced acquisition of a big modular building manufacturer in Australia.

Within days of each other, executives in the Langley head office of Britco announced they've been contracted to design, build, and install a 2,000 room work complex for the crew of the new $6.2 billion Keeyask Generating Station in northern Manitoba.

In the first phase, Britco will provide 500 dorm rooms, as well as a gym, recreation centre, water treatment facility, kitchen, and dining area, due for completion by June 2014 - kind of like the mining project they did a few years back in Russia.

In the second phase of this new project, which is subject to Manitoba Hydro receiving regulatory approval - Britco will supply a further 1,500 rooms.

Designed much like hotels, the rooms will be manufactured in Britco's two B.C. manufacturing facilities, in Agassiz and Penticton, and will translate into a lot of jobs.

A day after that contract was inked by president Mike Ridley, he was also announcing an agreement to partner with Black Diamond Group in the acquisition of Australian Portable Building Pty.

It is one of the top four modular makers Down Under, with about 271,000 square feet of manufacturing space - which seemed to be Britco's primary interest.

Brtico will pay $31.36 million for 80 per cent of the manufacturing business and 10 per cent of the leasing business.

That deal is expected to close in January.

rhooper@langleyadvance.com