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Leading modular manufacturer supports record number of students

Premier Modular, a leading offsite manufacturer, is celebrating a record-breaking year for providing hire buildings to the education sector, increasing its turnover threefold compared to the previous year.

During the 2023/4 period, the company has successfully supported nearly 5,700 students across the country through the provision of 22,500m2 of temporary classroom space. This is the equivalent to the size of over 80 tennis courts across 20 schools, ranging from primary up to university, for up to three years.

Premier Modular has played a central role in helping schools and educational estates achieve their building improvement goals in line with the School Rebuilding Programme and in response to growing student intake numbers.

Over the last academic year, the company provided over 120 standard classrooms and 70 specialist classrooms (a total of 1,300 modules), in addition to libraries and high specification SEND classrooms.

Each project was delivered in a matter of weeks, and the temporary classrooms ensured high quality environments that minimised disruption to student learning. With major works undertaken across estates, the rental buildings ensured that construction work didn’t disrupt day-to-day learning, improved safety outcomes and allowed the long-term works to continue uninterrupted.

Modular classrooms also play a crucial role in assisting schools to meet government-mandated sustainability goals. Able to be re-used and repurposed once their initial use is complete, the buildings create a circular economy that minimises the embodied carbon of the education sector as a whole.

Mark Rooney, Rental Divisional Director, Premier Modular, said: “We’re extremely proud to have contributed to the learning experience of thousands of students over the last year. Our record achievement for the number of hire buildings to the education sector reflects a commitment to supporting the upcoming generation with adaptable learning spaces when they’re needed most, whilst ensuring that schools are on track to reach sustainability targets by creating a circular economy.”

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Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust optimistic one year on from RAAC crisis

With the autumn term underway, Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, severely affected by the RAAC crisis in 2023, is embracing a positive future — providing inspiring learning environments for pupils and staff, investment and job creation in the region.

A year after the education sector was forced to close schools and relocate many classrooms, following the discovery of RAAC in a number of schools across the UK, the future looks bright for thousands of North East pupils and the wider communities.I

n September 2023 Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust (BWCET) introduced a series of innovative Estates strategies in the face of adversity, after it was told three of its schools required immediate closure.

Thanks to the continued commitment of management, staff, students, parents, the Department of Education and Local Councillors and MPs, two of those schools have reopened fully and the third — St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham — is operating successfully from a new site, housing state-of-the-art temporary teaching spaces.

St Leonard’s, St Anne’s Catholic Primary School (Gateshead) and St Benet’s Catholic Primary School (Ouston) have all been added to the Schools Rebuilding Programme with timetables for work under constant review.

And BWCET has pledged to undertake an ambitious expansion programme at another of its schools initially affected by RAAC with St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon set to benefit from significant investment.

“Throughout the last 12 months we have done everything we can to provide the highest possible level of education to our pupils,” said Nick Hurn OBE, CEO of BWCET.

“It was important that we took an agile approach to the future as, for many months, the situation was unclear and we needed to constantly revise our strategies.

“Twelve months on and that ability to pivot stands our schools in good stead for the future.

“It’s been an extremely challenging period — and nobody could have foreseen what was going to happen — but I feel that we’re emerging stronger as a Trust and as a community.

“In the meantime we are continuing to work with the Department for Education to agree the design of the St Leonard’s project and the timeframe for its delivery.”

With the new school year underway it’s hoped that the lessons learned — and strategies put in place — as a result of the RAAC crisis will enable all four affected BWCET schools to tackle the future with renewed confidence.

Last month’s impressive GCSE and A Level results at St Leonard’s underlined the remarkable determination of students and staff to strive for success in the face of significant hurdles.

Ninety per cent of GCSE entries were awarded grades between 4 and 9 while 40 per cent of A Level entries were awarded A* or A grades.

It is also a testament to the resilience and motivation of staff, pupils and families, who worked tirelessly to protect the education of pupils, that both St Anne’s and St Benet’s have also managed to achieve excellent results this year.

“I have thanked our staff teams and families for their support throughout this past year directly,” added Nick.

BWCET’s robust response to a challenging period coincides with a £12m investment in a four-year minor works initiative.

The innovative scheme was designed to inform the regional contractor market about opportunities to work with the Trusts’s estate on minor works including general building, roofing, mechanical and electrical repairs. This was spearheaded by Educational Commercial Services, the commercial arm of BWCET.

Already the Trust has secured £1.2m in social value commitment, creating more than 270 employment and training opportunities.

“In spite of the enormous challenges we’ve faced, operating 48 schools across the North East and as one the Trusts most severely affected by RAAC, we’ve still been able to implement our minor works contracts initiative,” added Nick.

“The appointed providers will deliver almost 150 days of training opportunities to benefit students at the Trust’s schools, with more than 230 hours of learning interventions, working with subject departments to support the curriculum.

“Then there’s nearly 50 days of construction sector awareness training and 64 days of career guidance and mentorship programmes. This training provides students with invaluable transferable skills for their future pathways.

“After the year that we’ve had it’s important to focus on the positives and recognise the progress that’s been made.”

At St Leonard’s head teacher Chris Hammill echoes an overriding feeling of positivity moving forward.

Although the school’s temporary learning spaces have proved popular with staff and students alike, there is genuine excitement that a new building is expected to be completed by Easter 2026 — ahead of schedule.

“I feel really hopeful for the future,” he added. “Adversity brings strength.”

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Fast turnaround from Portakabin for Leeds special needs school

Portakabin, the UK’s market leader in modular construction, successfully installed a 70-module complex at the Cross Green Road site in Leeds earlier this year, with installation complete in under three weeks.

Following a successful bid to the Department for Education in 2019, Leeds City Council announced Co-op Academies Trust as the successful sponsor of the special educational needs free school. The DfE selected modular specialist, Portakabin, to deliver this project.

The school opened in temporary accommodation at another Co-op Academy Trust site, on time and welcomed 56 children in September 2022. The new building will welcome the second cohort of students, an additional 86 children in September 2024. Full capacity of 200 is expected to be reached the following year.

Portakabin precision-engineered the modules, that were designed specifically for Co-op Academies Trust project, at its manufacturing facility in York and transported them less than 35 miles away to the site in Leeds. Known as ‘Co-op Academy Brierley’, the new SEND school will host 200 students from the ages of 4-16 in Leeds. The school is set to have a primary and secondary provision and will become an essential part of the local community in East Leeds.
Constructed off site using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), the school was installed quickly and safely despite having to manage around periods of high wind, with all custom-built modules on-site in less than three weeks.

James Pearson, Divisional MD at Portakabin, said: “Co-op Academy Brierley is one of the projects awarded to us on the DfE’s MMC framework. Despite the inclement weather, we were able to successfully deliver and install 70 modules safely in just 19 days, maintaining the agreed contract programme.

“Particular attention has been paid to preserving existing trees on site, despite the need for extensive sculpting of levels on the site, to achieve the gradients required for compliant access. It’s a great pleasure to celebrate the first milestone in this project, which will become an important part of the local community.”

Alongside over 27 classrooms and dedicated teaching space, the completed school will boast extensive minibus drop-off facilities, approximately 130 car parking spaces for staff and visitors, an immersive technology room, therapy, and sensory rooms.

After starting on site in January, installation was completed on 18 February, with the project set to be handed over before the start of the new school year in September 2024.

Sarah Harridge, Head Teacher, said: “The pace that our new school was built was nothing short of spectacular, this new school will give children with special needs in Leeds a state of the art, custom built provision with their needs at the heart of every decision made in the build process.”

Vicki England, Co-op Academy Project Manager, said: “This project has been very smooth and has remained on budget throughout which is of course very important when we’re working with Department for Education budgets, the school looks fantastic so far and we look forward to welcoming all 142 children to their new facility in September.”

The planned opening date for Co-op Academy Brierley is September 2024.

www.portakabin.com/gb-en/news-and-events/news/co-op-academy/

www.portakabin.com/gb-en/

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Education Specialists TG Escapes Awarded Manufacturer of the Year at the 2024 MMC Awards

The MMC Awards recognise excellence in construction for projects utilising modern methods of construction. TG Escapes specialise in providing biophilic, net-zero buildings to the education sector. Following their success in the 2023 MMC awards (Project of the Year for the English Department at Ratcliffe College and Public Sector Innovation of the Year for their Biophilic School design), their classroom block at Brune Park was Highly Commended in the Secondary/Higher Education category and they were awarded Manufacturer of the Year for Category 2 Modular Panelised Systems.

TG Escapes provide bespoke, modular, timber frame system has been utilised for hundreds of school buildings including SEND facilities, classroom blocks, dining halls and drama studios. The biophilic approach ensures that these spaces are full of natural light and have easy access to the outdoors. The impact on students is pronounced, with a calming effect that helps to reduce stress and increase focus. They are particularly active within the SEND and SEMH fields, producing a range of specially designed spaces intended to benefit students with diverse needs.
They offer a turnkey approach to clients across the UK, designing, manufacturing, installing and finishing each building. Everything starts with a free site survey and bespoke design process, after which they provide a comprehensive fixed price covering every aspect of a new school building.

They offer several clear benefits to schools:

  • Stunning Bespoke Designs: The in-house team of architects and engineers is able to produce wholly bespoke designs to meet a school’s specific needs. The buildings are aesthetically beautiful and designed to blend seamlessly with existing structures and with natural surroundings. They can feature a variety of finishes from natural timber to brick or render.
  • Cost-Effective: Modern methods of construction offer cost savings at every stage, which are further enhanced by an in-house manufacturing and turnkey service. Streamlined offsite construction minimises waste, and quick onsite installation minimises labour. The buildings equal or better the performance of a traditional brick and mortar build at reliably lower prices.
  • Quick Installation: Components are delivered to a school site in a controlled manner and sensitive to the school’s timetable, which minimises disruption allowing education continuity. For smaller projects, time onsite can be as little as 8 weeks.
  • Biophilic Principles: TG Escapes has long been a proponent of biophilic design principles, emphasising a connection to nature with each of their buildings. They incorporate natural light, views of nature, physical access to the outdoors and advanced ventilation systems, all of which have a profound impact on stress, mental health, and even exam performance.
  • Net-Zero Design as Standard: Through a combination of energy-efficient materials, a fabric first approach, solar panels, advanced ventilation technology and expert design, they achieve net-zero in operation as standard and can also certify the buildings as lifetime net-zero if required.
  • Built For Long-Term Performance: Timber is one of the oldest and most sustainable building materials used throughout the millennia and still stands the test of time. These permanent buildings satisfy or exceed all regulatory compliance and TG Escapes are Gold Members of the Structural Timber Association and Platinum Members of Construction Line.
  • Turnkey Service: They cover everything from the initial design to the final handover of keys, for a single upfront price. This includes site preparation, all foundations, planning permission and service connections. Throughout the project, you will have a clear point of contact with their friendly team who will manage the project from start to finish.

With over 800 buildings UK wide they are dedicated to offering an unparalleled service to education clients, with an average score of 4.9 out of 5 from 189 customer reviews.

Mrs Gill Farmer, Trust Business Manager, said: “TG Escapes responded quickly to any questions or concerns we raised with them from the design stage to completion. They worked with us to ensure that the school could continue to operate safely whilst they were on site. Any issues that were raised with the site team were immediately addressed and they followed our school risk assessment. They made the experience far less stressful than we had anticipated. The project was delivered ahead of time to a high standard.”

For more information, call 0800 917 7726, email info@tgescapes.co.uk or visit www.tgescapes.co.uk

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Why the modular industry is perfectly positioned to prevent school closures

 

Ben Wernick – Managing Director Wernick Buildings

 

In recent news, concerns have arisen over the safety of school buildings in the UK constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). This urgent situation calls for immediate action to ensure the health and safety of students and staff. Guidance issued by the Department for Education (DfE) advised that “any space or area with confirmed RAAC should no longer be open without mitigations in place”.

 

This highlights the issue that some schools will have to either delay reopening or close and urgent plans to be put in place to overcome these challenging times. With schools hoping to reopen after the summer holiday, action must be taken almost immediately for those affected.

It is notable that the modular construction industry stands as a reliable and well-positioned alternative that provides enhanced safety, durability, and sustainability in building and developing educational units. Modular buildings exhibit exceptional attributes, notably in safeguarding the security and welfare of their occupants. Unlike traditional construction methods, modular buildings are built in controlled factory environments, adhering to strict quality control protocols. This means that safety measures, such as structural integrity and fire resistance, are rigorously assessed and implemented during the manufacturing process. Moreover, as modular structures are designed to be transported and installed on-site, they require stronger and more resilient building components to withstand transportation stresses. This heightened attention to durability offers additional reassurance regarding the structural soundness of modular buildings.

Efficient construction time

Time is of the essence when dealing with urgent matters such as the closure of your school. Modular construction provides a significant advantage by significantly reducing construction timelines. Since modules are created off-site concurrently with site preparation, projects can be completed much faster than traditional construction. This expeditious approach minimises potential interruptions to academic activities, ensuring students can return to their studies as quickly as possible.

Additionally, the fabrication of modular buildings tends to be less disruptive than on-site construction. Noise and other disturbances are kept to a minimum, further supporting an uninterrupted learning environment during the construction process.

Modular construction not only saves time but also offers cost-effective solutions. The controlled environment of modular factories minimises material wastage and reduces the need for rework. With fewer delays and expenses associated with inclement weather, modular construction projects are more likely to adhere to budgetary constraints. Furthermore, modular buildings are designed to be easily expanded or reconfigured, allowing educational institutions to adapt to evolving needs and enrolment fluctuations. This adaptability provides long-term cost savings by avoiding the need for major renovations or additional construction in response to changing circumstances.

 

Sustainability and environmental responsibility

At Wernick Buildings we constantly strive to improve our environmental practices. Our controlled factory environment allows for efficient use of energy and resources, limiting waste generation. Additionally, sustainable materials can be incorporated during manufacturing, ensuring a reduced carbon footprint.  Furthermore, modular buildings can be designed to be energy-efficient with the incorporation of green technologies such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and LED lighting. These features reduce operational costs and promote sustainability by minimising resource consumption and carbon emissions.  In response to the recent news regarding the closure of school buildings built with potentially unsafe construction materials, the modular construction industry stands as an ideal solution, armed with its focus on safety, speed, cost-efficiency, and environmental responsibility. We have a range of high-quality, flexible modular classroom blocks that are ready to go, offering a quick and efficient solution for your educational space. Our modular buildings are constructed with cutting-edge materials, exceeding safety standards and are built to last.

Wernick Buildings are dedicated to supporting schools and safeguarding the well-being of both students and staff.

  

To advance your educational space, contact Wernick Buildings today.

 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WERNICK WEBSITE

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Delaware USA goes Modular

BOXX Modular, a leader in temporary space solutions, proudly announced the successful completion of a groundbreaking project in collaboration with the University of Delaware. The project involved designing and installing a state-of-the-art modular building on the prestigious Star Campus in Newark, Delaware.

The impressive single-story structure spans 27,000 square feet, making it the epitome of temporary on-campus leased space. Comprising thirty-two skillfully built modules, the sophisticated building weighs over 1 million pounds and occupies nearly two-thirds of an acre. It features three distinct wings dedicated to scientific laboratories, classrooms, and relocation flexibility, seamlessly connected by a central corridor.

The construction of this unique modular building commenced with the installation of engineered foundation piers, providing solid support for the entire structure and its access systems. Meanwhile, expertly crafted 15-ton modules were meticulously manufactured at an off-site factory and transported a combined distance of 25,000 miles. Once delivered by truck, the on-site assembly of these modules created an awe-inspiring building.

After completion of the foundation, a meticulous process of seaming the building sections together commenced, connecting to underground utilities and ensuring the installation of fire alarm and sprinkler systems. Additional construction tasks included pouring concrete sidewalks and constructing handicap-accessible entrances. The building received a meticulous fitting of cutting-edge laboratories, classrooms, and offices, with special attention given to the wet labs used for biology and chemistry. These labs feature precise yet flexible systems for ventilation, plumbing, electrical work, piped gases, and adaptive technological connectivity, meeting the stringent requirements of the university.

The Star Campus at the University of Delaware is renowned for its dedication to innovation, cutting-edge research, top-notch academics, community service, and economic development. Understanding the need for a superior temporary modular building, the university placed its trust in BOXX Modular’s proven expertise and outstanding reputation to deliver a customized solution that meets their exact requirements.

 

Source: Market Scale

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TG Escapes School Building Designs Triumph at the 2023 MMC Awards

The inaugural Modern Methods of Construction Awards recognises excellence in modular construction. TG Escapes Timber Frame Eco-Buildings were honoured to receive awards in two categories, winning both the ‘panelised system’ Project of the Year for their 10-classroom block at Ratcliffe college and the Public Sector Innovation of the Year for their innovative concept of a Biophilic Primary School with Early Years.

Ratcliffe College

Ratcliffe is an independent school located in Leicestershire. In 2021, requiring more space for their growing student numbers, they sought a company to build a new teaching block that would accommodate their whole English department.
Speed and design were two factors emphasised strongly by the college which played a key part in TG Escapes being awarded the contract – ‘they deliver a stylish, sustainable, economic solution with a bespoke design, a timber frame and engineering that achieves net zero in operation’.  Using a panelised modular system designed by in-house architects and engineers, the 925m2, ten classroom, two storey block was built in only 28 weeks, inclusive of demolition and enabling works to the original site. The modular approach saved time and compound space, simultaneously reducing costs versus more traditional construction solutions.  The building is sited in a prominent position in full view of parents dropping off their children and so was designed as an aesthetically pleasing addition to the school. The design includes a full height atrium with roof lights, a large PV array and a living roof along with a mix of render, cedar and neo-life cladding to the external façade. Views of nature, easy access to the outdoors, natural light and materials, were all considered and  are proving to enhance the well-being of students and their educational experience.

Head of English, Luanda Stannard says.

“Teaching staff are really enjoying the space in the rooms. We’ve got a lot more space to configure the desks as we want and it’s easier to walk around the room. We like the brightness. To teach in, they are extremely fit for purpose and having smart new rooms is quite exciting for the students as well.
It has all been received very well by parents and staff from other departments with comments like ‘Wow! This is amazing.’ Because it is the best building in the school. The most impressive building. The wall art particularly and the atrium area are fabulous. Very positive responses.
I think that there is a difference in attitude working in an environment that is good for learning. I can certainly see that because they have got the space and the light. It is a little bit early to tell but, I would say that certainly in behavioural terms in the classes themselves there has been a positive influence.
Overall, it is a massively positive building and it is a positive experience to work and learn in it.”

Biophilic Primary School

TG Escapes believe that connecting young people to nature can help not just educational outcomes but also health and well-being. They wanted to design a completely biophilic environment providing outdoor learning for the majority of the curriculum, and do this in a way which was affordable. This single-entry nursery and primary school for 300 children is constructed almost entirely from timber, with a low embodied carbon value, to be highly sustainable and lifetime net-zero.
The modular timber frame solution provides bright, airy buildings with high ceilings, exposed timber and abundant glazing for natural ventilation and light. It is clad in natural timber and features large solar PV arrays for sustainable net-zero operation. The approach makes biodiversity a priority with bird and bat boxes, insect-supporting structures, natural living roofs, rainwater capture and ongoing tree planting.
The design utilises separate pavilions connected by covered walkways and canopies, arranged to envelop a central landscaped, terraced area with an outdoor class at its centre. The walkways replace much redundant internal circulation with time outdoors, supporting various features such as seating, outdoor play and learning facilities, and sedum roofs. Modular construction means it can be built over a number of years, starting with early-years, adding accommodation for each new intake.
The total cost of the build, (excluding landscaping and services which will be site-specific) is £4m. The whole-life carbon calculation exceeds the RIBA 2030 target for schools.
TG Escapes provide an all-inclusive design and build turnkey service. The offsite modular construction process means that a bespoke design building can be completed on-site in as little as 6 weeks. With over 800 buildings countrywide, they are used in education for classrooms, canteens, sports facilities, training centres, early years spaces, SEND facilities and more. Rated by customers on Feefo they score 4.9 out 5 based on 183 reviews.

 

For more information CLICK HERE to visit the website

 

call 0800 917 7726

 

or CLICK HERE to email TG Escapes

 

 

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Top marks for modular classrooms

Delivering outstanding educational outcomes for young people requires high quality teaching spaces. Whatever kind of nursery, school, college or university building you need, modular solutions for hire can be easily and quickly integrated into your existing estate.  Here, Chris Coxon, from Algeco, looks at why, with ongoing pressure on capital budgets, more schools are choosing modular classrooms.

 

‘The secondary school population is forecast to increase by an extra 207,000 pupils by 2026*. That means more classrooms are needed. At the same time, refurbishing old classrooms or reconfiguring schools creates a pressing need for temporary or decant classrooms.
By choosing to hire, schools benefit from a learning environment that’s there for as long as they need it, and without needing to dip into Capex budgets. When the school has finished with the classrooms, they are simply taken away. It really couldn’t be easier.

Greater flexibility
When choosing a modular classroom there are a number of factors to consider. Research shows that fundamentals such as lighting and ventilation are of utmost importance in a learning environment. The HEAD Project (Holistic Evidence and Design)** found that more daylight and fresh air, within an optimised teaching environment, can increase learning capacity by up to 8%. It’s one of the reasons why we incorporate design features such as larger windows in our temporary classrooms.
A whole range of configurations are available, offering light and airy classrooms, with modules stackable up to four storeys high. Flexible, highly effective teaching spaces can be created easily, to your exact requirements.

Minimal disruption

Our modular classrooms are prepared offsite, which means pupils and teachers face minimal disruption to the day-to-day running of the school. Expect fewer delivery vehicles, fewer vehicle movements and a quicker, quieter, safer installation process, compared to traditional construction methods.  It’s also worth bearing in mind that our permanent and temporary classrooms are fully compliant with building regulations and DfE specifications. That includes the latest acoustic and thermal performance requirements.  As you would expect, our temporary, modular classrooms offer full WiFi, 4G broadband and data packages. These are part of our Plug’n’Play solution, meaning your classroom can be online within minutes.
Suitable for all ages, our education solutions include portable nursery buildings and crèches for pre-school age groups. Our portable nursery buildings are configured to meet the spatial needs of the seven areas of learning and development for young children, so there’s no need to compromise on facilities, even if it’s temporary.
Our 360 service provides you with a building fitted with fire safety equipment, such as a smoke detector, fire alarm, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, emergency exit signage, access control and much more.
We can equip modular buildings with a range of safety features for students including finger guards for doors, heaters with a low surface temperature, CCTV, controlled access, taps with blending valves and more.
We offer modular classrooms, lecture theatres for students, laboratories, sports halls, music rooms, toilets and WC facilities, changing rooms, teacher and staff welfare units and storage facilities.
Built-in sustainability  Once you’re finished with your temporary classroom, we’ll remove it for you, refurbish it and use it again. In fact, our modular classroom units can be reused, on average, up to 20 times or more during their lifecycle, which is an efficient use of materials – much better for the environment than building anew each time.
Our classrooms are also up to 96% recyclable, and benefit from a number of features, such as LED lighting and climate control systems, to help reduce energy consumption and maximise comfort all-year round.   Plus, our new range of Smart technology solutions can help your school to save up to 30% on its modular classroom energy consumption, by actively managing the building to reduce running costs.


Decant solution for Mayfield Primary School

Operating as a 315-place primary school with a 26-place nursery, the classrooms at Mayfield Primary School were in a poor state of repair, and inefficiently configured. The existing school buildings were located towards the centre of the site which limited the capacity for external play and team sports.
The strategic vision for the new school was to increase the pupil intake to 420, as a 2-form entry with 30 nursery places.  The project, which was managed by Algeco, involved relocating the reception classroom modular building, decanting pupils into temporary accommodation, and constructing a new, three-storey, 2,214m2 building, complete with drainage, new service connections and hard and soft landscaping.  Manufacturing the modular buildings offsite minimised disruption at the school, while our high-quality temporary classrooms enabled teaching to continue throughout the build process.  The way forward  Whether you’re making space for additional pupils, or need a decant solution while you carry out much-needed refurbishments, or build a new school, we have the right solution for you.
Our temporary classrooms create high-quality, comfortable and inspiring learning environments that enable students of all ages to thrive. With our flexible hire contract terms, you can even spread the cost and avoid the need for capital expenditure. One phone call is all that’s needed to hire a modular building that’s ready for your staff and students.

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE ALGEGO WEBSTE

 

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Transforming the education sector with SmartSpace

Transforming the education sector with SmartSpace: McAvoy’s high-quality modular fleet for rental & sale

McAvoy has been manufacturing and delivering a wide range of innovative and adaptable space solutions for more than 50 years during which time it has delivered more than 10million square feet of high-quality accommodation across a range of sectors including education.

McAvoy recognised the need for a product that could support customers in meeting immediate needs, for example, to cope with classroom shortages, without having to make a large capital investment. Within the education sector, for example, this could enable funds to be used elsewhere, eg upgrading equipment or hiring staff, resulting in improved overall service levels.
Combining design expertise, engineering excellence and precision manufacturing, McAvoy created their SmartSpace modular fleet for rental and sale– which is amongst the newest of its kind – it is sustainable, safe, high quality, adaptable, and future-proofed. Offering endless configurations SmartSpace can also be easily repurposed.

 

So what is SmartSpace?
SmartSpace is McAvoy’s ready-to-go semi-permanent modular space solution designed for customers who want to rent or purchase accommodation within demanding lead-times. SmartSpace can be designed to accommodate anything from 10 to more than 1,000 people.

Incorporating the very latest in technology-led design, McAvoy’s high-quality SmartSpace solutions boast superior thermal performance, enhanced air tightness and U values that exceed current performance requirements. With a 90-minute plus fire rating floor to floor and a 60-minute plus fire rating inside to outside, complemented by A2 non-combustible cladding, insulation, and roofing every SmartSpace building is industry-leading and offers a stackable configuration of up to three storeys. For added design versatility and re-useability they come in three compatible and interchangeable module sizes.

All McAvoy’s SmartSpace modular solutions are warranty protected and boast high quality, low maintenance facades, commercial grade PPC aluminium external doors and low maintenance modern interiors.   With around 80% of the project being completed within our 70,000 sq ft purpose-built manufacturing facility, site disruption is significantly reduced.  McAvoy developed three different SmartSpace solutions to support its range of customer needs – with fast-track delivery guaranteed including SmartClass – designed and created for the education sector – which can be configured to meet the requirements of any education space in terms of whole-life costs, sustainability, flexibility, and overall quality.

www.mcavoygroup.com

info@mcavoygroup.com

0330 107 0799

SmartClass: Designed & Delivered

St Josephs National School,
County Dublin
Requirement:  To prepare for a rise in student enrolments, the Department of Education Building Unit required high-quality modular classrooms in time for students starting the new term.  Our solution:
Four SmartClass modular classrooms with WCs were delivered to site with 80% of the works having already been completed at our 70,000 sq ft purpose-built manufacturing facility, including electrics, internal partitioning, flooring, cladding and features an Air Sourced Heat Pump in accordance with NZEB requirements. The project was completed within 16 weeks and was delivered on time and to budget.

Ysgol Y Deri Special School
Requirement:  Home to 300 pupils, this is the largest special school in the UK. With rising admissions, the school had an urgent requirement for increased classroom provision for the September  term while it awaits a new build.
Our Solution:  52-week Rental.
Following appointment as principal contractor, McAvoy designed, built, and handed over the new SmartClass facility in less than 11 weeks from instruction and less than 5 weeks on site. The accommodation features an entrance lobby with cloakroom area, accessible WC and two individual pupil toilets with IPS as well as two 62m2 classrooms with wet play areas and dedicated storage rooms.

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New ‘modular’ building planned for school

New ‘modular’ building planned for Bath Road school

A primary school is being allowed to build a ‘modular’ building for six new classrooms and a dedicated ‘family support’ area.

Applicants are set to put in the new building at Claycots Primary School on 19 Bath Road (site of the old town hall).

The new building will offer ‘a dedicated secure space’ for the family support team, where they can offer support to vulnerable children and their families.

This includes sessions for those children under nursery age, plus partnership working with other professionals to meet the needs of the individual children.

It will also add additional classroom space, which can also be used for indoor PE lessons when the weather prevents outdoor PE lessons.

The space which can be used for lettings in the community, ‘which will provide additional income for the school in the future.’

It can be used by community organisation’s ‘to develop partnerships and support our local community.’

Some ‘play structures’ will be demolished, freeing up the space.

The application was approved with certain conditions – including using the building as a support facility room/classroom only between the hours of 8.30am to 3.30pm to reduce noise and traffic pressures.

To see all documents related to this application, enter reference S/00015/053 into Slough council’s planning portal.

Source: Maidenhead Advertiser

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