Modular timber frame buildings providing flexible provision for SEND & SEMH

TG Escapes modular eco-buildings have provided more than 300 education buildings in various settings UK wide. Over the past few years there has been a significant increase in demand from special schools and for SEND provision in mainstream schools.

Those working in SEND and SEMH report that a timber frame building using natural materials, with floor to ceiling windows and glass doors, also providing easy access to the outdoors with covered walkways, provide a particularly suitable environment.  Each TG Escapes building is architect designed with specific needs in mind. Small rooms can be included for breakout spaces while treatment rooms and sensory rooms can be easily accommodated, as can accessible toilets, ramps and kitchens.

The natural materials, natural lighting and excellent acoustics provide calming spaces which have a significant and positive impact on student and staff well-being.

Two recent projects have seen the provision of a building to connect to a SEND garden at Chichester College which provides further and higher education, and a multi-purpose building at Mountfield Heath SEMH school for students aged 5-11 with complex and challenging needs.  We asked Executive Head at Mountfield Heath, Lyndsey Jefferies, about the process and the building.

How did you find the construction service?

“I think the most important thing to share from my experience was the actual build. We were quite a small site and the space the team had to work in was tight but they were fantastic. They were so respectful of the fact they were working on a site with special needs children. They kept us up to date with what plant was coming on-site and knew that many of our children were very excited to see it. They let us know what machinery was coming, and when, so that the kids could be very involved and watch what was happening. Also, in terms of their conduct, we have previously had workmen here smoking, using foul language and playing loud radios. The TG Escapes team were just so respectful.

Timing was tight but every delivery came in spot on schedule. This really helped with us to be able to let our neighbours know when big deliveries were due which made the build less stressful. Dealing with complaints from neighbours can be tricky, but we could give them advance warning of large deliveries and noisy building work. It also meant I could move children to other parts of the school when needed.”

How is the eco-building working out?

“The first thing is it feels lovely. It feels very bright and airy and because we are in quite a rural area it really is in keeping with the woodland, the trees and the fields. It doesn’t look out of place with our environment.  The natural materials change the feel of it and I think for a modular build it feels really solid and robust. The other thing is all the rooms have got lots of light, but there has been careful consideration about it. The kitchen area is a long galley with floor to ceiling windows that maximise the natural light.

The height of the ceilings is another massive plus. Often the ceilings in modular builds are very low so you feel very enclosed, but our ceilings are of a really good height which gives a feeling of space. A lot of our children suffer from sensory processing issues and so the lighting and the feel of a space are very important, as are the acoustics. The acoustics in our building are very good. Although many modular builds are very echoey, ours is not because of the ceiling tiles which are different to the rest of the school. We also have adaptive ventilation, due to our concerns about Covid, and air conditioning which are also great. The insulation is phenomenal and the building heats up very quickly then holds the heat. It’s very efficient.

What works very well are the verandas. Having the decking coming straight off the front, that indoor/outdoor space works very well with our children. TG Escapes took full consideration of the school environment and maintained excellent communication.”

Robert Kay, Director of Estates at Chichester College says

“TG Escapes provide a real ‘turn key’ solution, and take care of everything, from design to planning and final installation.”

TG Escapes modular eco-buildings offer a complete design and build service.

CLICK HERE for more information and case studies

 

call 0800 917 7726

 

or CLICK HERE to email TG Escapes

 

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A glimpse of an offsite future . . .

Here, James Withey, Managing Director at Algeco offsite, looks at how innovation in the design and delivery of modular platforms is driving forward the new schools building programme.

The pressing need for additional places is driving significant changes in the type of construction technique specified, with the government pushing for platform-based solutions.

In 2020, the UK government published its Construction Playbook – a document which aimed to set the future direction for the construction industry. It contained the following recommendations: Standardise designs, components and interfaces as much as is possible to improve quality, safety, performance and reduce environmental impact and; Drive innovation and Modern Methods of Construction, through standardisation and aggregation of demand, increased client capability and setting clear requirements of suppliers.

Previously, the Government had stated that five central government departments would adopt a presumption in favour of offsite construction, leveraging their buying power to support the modernisation of the sector. Their goal was to facilitate a platform approach to design for manufacture and assembly (P-DfMA). This is a process by which building products and components are designed in a way that enables them to be made on a large scale and then factory assembled.

This platform based approach requires components that are designed digitally for use across multiple types of built asset, which minimises the need for bespoke components for different types of assets. For example, the same modular building component could be used in the construction of a school, hospital or university accommodation.

As part of the consortium of partners that developed the Seismic, which uses a platform-based approach and takes its lead from P-DFMA, we like to think that we are strong proponents of standardised, offsite construction. We are living, breathing and delivering on the government’s objectives – and taking a leading role in the transformation of the industry as a whole.

There are good reasons why we took this approach, with P-DFMA modular construction techniques able to deliver projects in up to half the time of a conventional build, whilst achieving important synergies around cost, efficiency, build quality and safety.

Northampton School for Boys

Partly in response to a need for high quality teaching spaces, Northampton School for Boys applied to the Department for Education (DfE) to open a co-educational Free School. At the time of the application, extensive public consultation with the local community showed considerable support for the proposal. The site for the proposed school was owned by Northamptonshire County Council and the new facility would help meet the need for school places that were forecasted.  Following public consultation, the proposal was successful in gaining DfE funding and it was subsequently named Northampton School for Boys Multi-Academy Trust. The new school will create a 1200 place new secondary school, including sixth form provision for 11-18 year olds. It is a state funded single sex boys’ school. Girls are admitted to the Sixth Form.

Algeco was appointed to construct the school on behalf of the Department for Education who are funding the school. When completed, the school will be operated by the Northampton School for Boys Charitable Trust. Fittingly for such a forward thinking school, we will deliver the construction programme using the Seismic platform.

We secured the project via the MMC1 Lot 1 modular framework and were appointed as Principal Design & Build Contractor, working with Watson Batty Architects. Our approach will provide a full turnkey solution. Work began on site in January 2023.  A combination of our offsite and modular building construction system was chosen to deliver the programme. Utilising the Seismic platform for the modules will realise significant benefits; it is 75% faster and achieves a 47% improvement in value compared to traditional construction techniques; it even offers a 33% improvement in speed when compared with standard modular construction.  Seismic delivers in other areas, too. It results in a significant reduction in both operational and embodied carbon of up to 70%. This is achieved through factors including design efficiency, materials selection and manufacturing effectiveness, leading to limited wastage.

A total of 210 Seismic modules will be supplied to create the main teaching areas. We will also be utilising a hybrid structure for the halls, which require large open plan internal spaces.  Delivering these important programme benefits is helped by the fact that we manufacture the modular buildings at our facility in East Yorkshire. Utilising DfMA (Design for Manufacturing Assembly) and Lean Manufacturing, combined with Seismic design platform, allows us to deliver the modules with a high PMV (Pre Manufacturer Value) of around 80 percent. This reduces the amount of work required on site and means that we can achieve the strict schedule on this project. The building modules will be delivered to site in August 2023. Handover of the completed school is scheduled to take place in 2024.

From a practical point of view, achieving a high PMV means that important compliance assessments can be carried out on the modules before they arrive on site, meaning it is done in a controlled, quality assessed environment that has strict procedures in place. That is important because, for example, carrying out fire and thermal performance testing on site is often a challenge due to it requiring continual observation and assessment throughout the entire build process to verify that the correct approach has been followed at each stage.

Doing this in a factory, where strict procedures and checks are in place is much easier and results in a more robust end result. In reality, it means that the building will perform better. In reality, they’re really aren’t issues with Seismic because of rigorous factory testing and we are exploring next phase developments on Seismic that will create pre-approved solutions.

Track record of project delivery

In line with the latest government guidance and policy, the Seismic platform was developed to drive a major shift towards a more productive, better quality and lower carbon construction industry.  Developed by a consortium of organisations, including ourselves, this cross-sector platform for construction projects uses the latest in digital and manufacturing technologies.  The platform facilitates the design, procurement, manufacture and assembly of buildings using standardised and interoperable components and assemblies. It enables contracting authorities to collaborate and benefit from increased efficiencies across different sectors.

We are currently the only company to supply offsite and modular buildings using the Seismic platform, enabling us to ‘manufacture at scale standardised building modules whilst maintaining exemplary quality levels. It’s currently being utilised in another major construction project, the £19.2m Laurance Calvert Academy in Leeds, along with several leisure and retail projects.

Designed in line with the government’s Construction 2025 targets, modular manufacturing programme makes a step change in the shift to a more productive, better quality and lower carbon construction industry. As a matter of course, we now guide any educational establishment looking to renew or expand their estates to consider the benefits of a platform-based approach. It has already been added to the Construction Platform Rulebook.

This approach uses a small number of repeatable base designs, whether the resulting component module is being used for a classroom, changing area or student accommodation unit. The standard design can then be tailored to meet individual customer needs later on the process, leading to significant economies of scale.   The platform has been transformational; previously the bottleneck in the modular industry was making the steel frame, yet with Seismic we have been able to more than quadruple our throughput. That has made a huge difference for customers looking for efficiencies in their construction programme.

 

Shown are images of the Build process of new Laurence Calvert modules from Algeco in Carnaby Bridlington. Images Copyright ©Darren Casey DCimaging

Consolidating growth  Recent project wins for Algeco came at the close of a very successful year, which saw us secure around £95m of new business, many within the education sector.  This year, we will consolidate this growth by investing in the expansion of our Carnaby factory in East Yorkshire to increase capacity. This includes ongoing investment in DfMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) and Lean Manufacturing to further unlock the benefits of standardised, platform-based construction and efficiency. Ultimately, it will drive a major shift towards a more productive, better quality and lower carbon construction industry.  There’s no doubt that developers, planners and manufacturers across the board are operating in difficult times, and the current economic climate requires us all to achieve more with less. But by adopting efficient approaches such as offsite construction platforms, combined with DfMA and Lean Manufacturing, the industry will be better able to achieve government targets and reduce costs and emissions, whilst delivering projects more efficiently.  In short, by adopting offsite construction more widely, and at the planning and design stages, the industry will be well-placed to meet the challenges ahead.

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For more information on Algeco’s offsite solutions,

including our latest projects

 

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Modular building blends in perfectly at Martin High School

 

Students and teachers at Martin High School are enjoying a beautiful new classroom block at their school in Anstey, Leicestershire.

Classroom space for the Humanities department was limited. The department’s classrooms were far too spread out across the site, which was not the ideal learning environment to deliver the desired curriculum. The school sought to replace an old, small pre-fabricated block of classrooms with a modern bespoke building to serve as a centralised Humanities hub.

Through a competitive tender process overseen by Surveyors 2 Education, Wernick Buildings was awarded the project by the Lionheart Educational Trust.

A two-storey modular building was a more cost-effective solution for the Trust. The client remarked that a modular option allowed them to get more value for money across all project operations. It was also a more time-efficient choice. Unlike traditional buildings, a modular classroom block is manufactured and assembled in a controlled factory environment in a matter of weeks, drastically reducing the time spent onsite.

 

Wernick provided a full turnkey solution, complete with the demolition of the existing building and a full internal and external services package. To ensure that the building not look out of place, the block was designed to match the existing architecture of the surrounding buildings.

Each of the building’s 20 modules were manufactured in Wernick’s dedicated facility in South Wales. The offsite manufacture of the building modules in a factory environment gave the project several advantages. Firstly, the building could be constructed at the same time as the foundations were being prepared onsite, dramatically reducing disruption on the school site, and allowing students to continue learning without interference. Manufacture was also not affected by site conditions like the weather, making the programme even more reliable. This was vitally important for the school, with the building deadline being set within the academic school year.

Wernick’s manufacturing process was also a sustainable option for the client. The controlled conditions used to build modular units means almost no waste goes to landfill. Everything is filtered for recycling, and what can’t be recycled is shredded and distributed to a local “energy from waste” plant.

Once complete, the modules were transported to the school in Leicestershire via lorry. Due to the tight footprint of the site, the client worked closely with building crews to make sure there was sufficient space to proceed. The Wernick team proposed using a retaining wall to assist with the tight logistics of the area. Modules were then craned into position and bolted together to form the core of the building. A robust brick-skin cladding was later added to the core to give a more traditional construction appearance which perfectly matched the existing campus buildings.

Construction on the project was completed in October 2022. Both students and teachers continuously say that the block “looks like a traditional building.” External features include a large frontal canopy, an exterior staircase and curtain walling. It also has been outfitted with an energy-efficient heating and ventilation system. The interior is equipped with a customised, technology-rich IT suite, five spacious classrooms and several staff offices. Other indoor features include toilets and accessible toilets on each floor, an accessible platform lift next to the stairs, and storage areas.

Users of the building say they are enjoying the new teaching block. Oliver Willis, Project Manager at the Lionheart Educational Trust said,

 

“the feedback from the building’s users has been very positive. They are very thankful to have this building. There is great quality throughout the building. Students are able to learn and thrive in the space.”

 

Wernick Buildings has decades of experience in delivering modular solutions in the education sector and is highly skilled at working around live academic building settings. Design, manufacture and site teams are located in-house, providing you with a single point of contact for peace of mind throughout the project. Wernick’s flexible modular systems provide cost efficiency, shorter and more reliable programmes, and improved quality and sustainability.

 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WERNICK MODULAR SCHOOL BUILDINGS

 

 

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MCAVOY DELIVERS PROJECTS IN EDUCATION AND HEALTH SECTORS VALUED AT OVER £40m 

 Leading offsite manufacturer, McAvoy, has completed the handover of three major contracts worth £40m. 

The projects in both the education and health sectors have utilised the very latest in precision manufacturing techniques and further reinforced McAvoy’s credentials for high quality, fast delivery, and sustainability.

The 6,850m2 Merstham Park School which McAvoy delivered for the Department for Education within just 66 weeks is a purpose-designed 2-3 storey school providing 900 pupils aged 11-16 years with high-quality classrooms, play space, a dance studio, and an all-weather sports pitch.

The pioneering ‘Low Carbon Pathfinder’ project minimises energy usage by implementing the ‘Be Lean, Be Clean, Be Green’ energy hierarchy which focuses on reducing the demand for energy at source through passive measures before considering efficient systems and renewable technology.

The use of digital technology and Modern Methods of Construction enabled the reduction of the school’s water demand by more than 30%, operational energy consumption by more than 73% and carbon emissions by almost 60% of the predicted regulated energy use. Low or Zero Carbon Technologies (LZCTs) also provide up to 44% of peak energy demand at the school.

A biophilic approach to the design was also key to enhancing the students’ sensory connection with the natural environment, improving psychological health & wellbeing, increasing levels of relaxation, concentration and cognitive performance, as well as social activation and motivation to learn.

Meanwhile, Stanton Cross Primary School in Wellingborough – a two storey School accommodating 420 pupils aged 4-11 – is an integral element in a £1billion development that is set to transform the East of Wellingborough.

McAvoy delivered the school which includes classrooms, a main hall and kitchen, along with playground, soft play area and a dedicated children’s centre for younger pupils for North Northamptonshire Council within 11 months of signing the contract.

The third major project – this time within the health sector – is a ten-year rental arrangement for the provision of 2no. 48 bed wards at Good Hope Hospital and Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE

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Offsite and modular hire help manage pupil numbers

The launch of the Department for Education’s rebuilding programme, combined with the Government’s ‘presumption in favour of offsite building’ is increasing demand for this method of construction. Here, Jim Cowell, Technical Director at Algeco considers some of the benefits it offers the education sector.

Following the UK Government’s announcement of a ‘presumption in favour of offsite,’ all building projects should have at least one option that includes the substantial use of offsite manufacture during the development stage. Combined with a school rebuilding and refurbishment push by the Department for Education, many schools are opting for modular design builds.

One key factor in the rising popularity of modular construction – both within an offsite and temporary building hire programme – is its cost-effectiveness. Long-term running costs of modular buildings are often lower than those of traditional brick and mortar buildings, due to the modules being produced in a quality assessed production facility with high manufacturing tolerances at critical interfaces. Often, achieving these on site can be more challenging due to skills shortages and inclement weather, for example.

Offsite construction offers a quicker, less disruptive alternative to traditional construction. Utilising DfMA (Design for Manufacturing Assembly) and Lean Manufacturing, combined with Seismic design innovation, allows us to deliver building modules with a high PMV (Pre Manufacturer Value) of around 80 percent. It’s why we approach all our projects using DfMA, including more recent school builds at Laurence Calvert Academy in Leeds and Northampton School.

Completed the majority of work in a controlled, factory environment lifts any limitations usually imposed by weather. It also reduces the level of disruption to the school itself, mitigating any distractions caused by noise and alleviating health and safety concerns associated with a traditional construction site. As the majority of the building is completed offsite, insertion of the modular building onto the school grounds can easily be co-ordinated with school holidays, avoiding any disruption to learning.

Compared to traditional construction, modular construction produces a limited amount of waste, as classrooms are designed to tight specifications, with any excess materials from design modifications being reused for later projects. As modular buildings are completed offsite, vehicular traffic from travel to and from the construction site is eliminated, meaning CO₂ levels are lower than that of a traditional construction site.

Permanent offsite builds: Hatchlands Primary School

Due to residential developments and increasing birth rates in the area, a new school was developed in Redhill, Surrey.

Adjacent to a Conservation Area, offsite construction of the school using our permanent modular building system meant that the modules were delivered with a PMV of 85%, and ready for final finishing on-site. This reduced the construction schedule by around 50%, compared to a traditional on-site build, with completion in just 32 weeks.

The new school was funded by the DfE and operated by the Everychild Trust – a multi-academy trust, whose aim is to “Engage, equip and empower every child”. Development of the school was part of a Modular-A Primary School component solution framework.

The 420-place school had to be created on a similar footprint to the existing structure and within the same two-storey height limit.

The designers were DLA Architects who worked with our offsite team to develop a component-centred solution based on the Algeco market leading modular system. Hatchlands was designed in a contemporary style using brick, cedar cladding, purple panelling to complement the school’s branding, render and significant glazed elements to create light filled teaching spaces.

Built to high sustainability standards, the school achieves a BREEAM Very Good Rating, placing it within the top 25% of buildings, in terms of sustainability, aligning with the goals of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. Transmittance of noise was minimised, meeting minimum standards set out in The Building Bulletin 93 (BB 93) ‘Acoustic Design of Schools: A Design Guide,’ through the construction of a suspended concrete floor in the module.

A large span sports hall was created using our Hybrid system, providing the school with a valuable space that is now used for assemblies, sports and performances. The system allows incorporation of large open atriums and increased ceiling heights and can be fully integrated with the modules to provide greater design scope.

CLICK HERE To find out more about the Hatchlands Primary School

 

 

Temporary modular buildings for hire

Changes in pupil numbers and demographics are putting pressure on education providers nationwide. It’s one of the reasons why more education providers are opting for temporary classrooms, because it allows them to create extra places, quickly. They can also be used to move the whole school into interim facilities while new permanent offsite buildings are created.

Schools that choose the hire route avoid the need for CapEx and lengthy sign-off processes whilst having the flexibility to use the buildings for as long as they want. This aligns well with sustainable and circular economy principles because the buildings are refurbished and re-used when they are decanted from site. Hiring temporary classroom is a cost effective solution for schools looking to respond rapidly to changes in pupil numbers.

CLICK HERE to discover more about temporary classroom hire

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE ALGECO WEBSITE

 

 

 

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low carbon Lancashire school

Leading energy and regeneration specialist, Equans has been appointed by Lancashire County Council to deliver a brand-new, modular primary school in Ribblesdale, Clitheroe, which is designed to achieve net zero carbon status.

The new school will provide 210 much-needed new school places for children in the area, and local disruption will be kept to a minimum since the majority of build will take place off-site.

The benefits of modular construction are vast; mainly that it allows for a higher build quality, which is also more energy efficient; and means a faster build time as opposed to traditional construction methods.

Equans will install a ground source heat pump, supplying the school with a sustainable source of heat and hot water. Solar PV will also be installed on the roof, which will generate power for the school.

Equans has revealed the school will benefit from the company’s School Zero product – which concurrently promises net zero construction, as well as teaching children about the importance of sustainability.

Equans has invested in high quality curriculum materials and built a portal of useful information for teachers, which has a range of bespoke ‘free to all’ materials for Key Stage 1 and 2 including ‘TED’ style talks for teachers to support and grow their understanding of climate change and help them better engage pupils and local communities on the agenda.

Equans has also provided ‘Industry Insights’ session to 145 students from Ribblesdale High School: as well as offering two apprenticeships for students at Preston College.

 

 

Alyson Seddon, Construction Director at Equans, said: “Schools are at the heart of every community and this new school will not only offer up much-needed new places for children in the area, but encourage young people to be ‘school zero heroes’ and positively influence their own families to live more sustainably, through bespoke learning on climate change.

“We are thrilled to be working with the council and community more widely to push this agenda and offer up workshops and work placements so we can really make a difference.”

 

 

Cllr Jayne Rear said: “This innovative new primary school will deliver much-needed places for children in the Ribble Valley. We are constantly working hard to identify where more school places are needed, as we want every child in Lancashire to have access to the best possible education. We aim to deliver these school places in the most efficient way.

“We want the very best for Lancashire’s children and young people as part of our pledge to make the county the best place to live. We must ensure that when construction is needed then it is done in an environmentally friendly way, contributing towards the goal of making the county net zero for future generations.”

 

The school is scheduled to complete in August 2023 ahead of the September 2023 term.

 

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Aggregate Industries puts school on the right path

Aggregate Industries has stepped in to help a Leicester school to provide vital access to specialist classrooms for its students.

 

The leading construction materials supplier, which has its headquarters in Coalville, Leicestershire, was approached by Keyham Lodge School in Hamilton to solve the problem it had accessing its new educational pods.

The school, a Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) academy for 11-16 year-olds, has a high percentage of pupils with functioning autism diagnosis and a rising number of students applying but it operates on a limited sized site.

The education ‘pods’ were installed 90 metres away from the main school building on an area of soft grass which often proved difficult to access during bad weather.

With no available additional budget, the school had to put access plans on hold until Aggregate Industries came to their aid. After a conversation with the company, the school successfully applied for Aggregate Industries’ social value funding (material/labor donation) to design and install a new footpath.

A team from the company’s Midlands Contracting team, part of the newly implemented Surfacing Solutions division, were on site for three days where they removed 45 tonnes of soil and turf before constructing a new hardwearing asphalt footpath to access the pods.

 

Jonathan Falls, Midlands Area Manager for Aggregate Industries Surfacing Solutions Division, said: “We were really happy to support such a worthy cause and help the school create better access to these vital additional teaching spaces.

“It is great to be able to support our local communities in this way. We may be a national company but our workforce is local to our sites and they enjoy being able to give something back in this way.”

Richard Doyle, Assistant Headteacher at the school, said: “I would just like to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone from the team at Aggregate Industries. From my initial enquiry to the completion of the project, the AI team could not have done more to ensure the project ran in a smooth and timely manner, whilst understanding the needs of our students during the operations of a busy school day.

“Their professionalism coupled with the finished product will transform the schools offering and capacity to work with the city’s most vulnerable students. This simply is not a path to us, but a gateway to provide an environment where students can learn and develop their full potential in an accessible and safe space.”

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Transformative building kits for schools

We’ve all grown understandably weary of the term “shortage” these days, but the lack of suitable school buildings for a surging numbers of school-age children should top the list of parents’ most pressing concerns.

Growing populations of primary and secondary pupils means that many UK and European schools simply don’t have space to house their growing student body comfortably. This has led to a slew of difficult decisions, including “temporary” structures that sometimes end up in use for years, or cramped classrooms where students are packed together like sardines.

At the same time, skyrocketing fuel prices are forcing some school officials to reconsider their antiquated buildings’ use of heat, water, and electricity — as well as their larger carbon footprint. These considerations are likely to continue to be a factor in school boards’ short- and long-term plans, as the dual crises of climate change and rising energy costs converge.

Stora Enso, a leader of solutions within wood construction, packaging, and biomaterials, has a proposed solution with potential to address both these problems at once: an easy-to-build kit called Sylva (Latin for “woodland” or “forest”). The kit, made of wood and consisting of pre-manufactured, custom-made components including walls, floors, roofs, stairs, beams, columns, and rib panels, promises not only to help schools keep up with rising demand for new classrooms, but also to cut down on the carbon emissions associated with construction of such structures.

 

“The benefits of building with timber are extensive, not least when it comes to schools because they are built for future generations,” said Lars Völkel, executive vice president of Stora Enso Wood Products.

A sustainable solution to dual problems

As reported by the World Economic Forum, the “built environment” — closely tied to the construction industry — is responsible for a whopping 39 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions. As corporations and governments look for new opportunities to meet ambitious climate and energy goals, many are paying close attention to the construction sector.

When it comes to school construction, many of today’s current buildings are made of concrete and steel. These materials are associated with a massive carbon footprint. In fact, concrete has been called “the most destructive material on earth.” Meanwhile, studies have found that every cubic meter of wood is capable of storing around 1 tonne of CO2. (Even once a tree is cut down, the carbon stored in the wood remains locked in the raw material.)

Sylva, which consists of massive wood, reportedly provides up to 70 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than concrete buildings. What’s more, Stora Enso explains that even a small, 1,200 m² school concept building can store up to 50 tonnes of carbon throughout its lifecycle.

These are all important considerations, given that growth of education construction projects is projected to spike 14 percent in the next year.

 

“We are making it as easy as possible to plan, design, and build a mass timber school,” said Sebastian Hernadez, R&D manager of building concepts with Stora Enso. “It shouldn’t be hard to build sustainably.”

 

Stora Enso has a long history of sustainably managed timber; today, it’s one of the largest forest owners in the world. “Mass timber” more generally has become a hot topic in recent years as architecture firms and construction entities consider ways to both cut costs and curb their carbon impact. Companies like Stora Enso, whose wood products are third-party certified by traceability and various chain-of-custody systems, are an increasingly attractive solution. All Sylva products made in Europe are produced with renewable-only electricity and fossil-free energy.

Benefits beyond sustainability

Sylva building kits have a number of benefits for budget- and time-pressed school boards that go beyond the basic carbon and cost savings, including faster installation time — around 30 percent less time spent on construction sites — and less environmental impact than traditional construction methods. There are ancillary benefits of pre-fabrication as well, including a potentially reduced need for construction labour, which is critical amidst the current labour shortage (there’s that word again).

Finally, because wood weighs about five times less than concrete, it requires a fewer number of deliveries, which means lower transportation costs and emissions.

In addition to being used for schools, Sylva could be a game-changer for offices, commercial spaces, and even multi-story residential buildings. On top of being a more sustainable option than steel or concrete structures, wood buildings are also associated with a host of health and wellness benefits. “Biophilic design,” or design that mimics nature, has been shown to improve mental health and cognitive capacity. It’s also associated with improvements in indoor air quality. And finally, when it’s time to adapt, renovate, or tear down one of these buildings in the future, parts can be reused or recycled with minimal environmental impact since they’re made from wood.

 

“We see an increasing demand from building developers for healthy interior spaces, driven by multiple research reports showing health impacts of biophilic design. This is a trend that we are likely to see more and more of,” said Johanna Pirinen, the SVP of sustainability and wood products at Stora Enso.

 

Stora Enso website

 

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Student accommodation aligns with University masterplan

A flagship University of York student accommodation campus has reached completion, creating 1,480 beds across 18 accommodation blocks for the increasing student population.

Delivered by GRAHAM and forming part of the Heslington East Campus, the new neighbourhood is between the North and South lakes and has formed the desired gateway to the west campus.

The £130m project included the design, build, financing and ongoing operation of three and four storey blocks, and two social hubs (David Kato College and Anne Lister College), all complete with public realm and landscaping works. GRAHAM and Equitix were joint investors.

 

With a combined space of over 400,000 sq ft, the student accommodation aligns with the University of York’s development masterplan. Works to complete the development have taken less than three years to complete.

Equitix Management Services Ltd (EMS) delivered the Management Services Agreement on behalf of Civitas Living LLP (the SHP), comprising construction contract management, financial management and facilities management.

EMS also administered a number of variations to the project, including the early delivery of three residential blocks.

 

Gary Holmes, regional managing director at GRAHAM Building North, said: “There is an acute demand for purpose-built student accommodation across the UK and the successful delivery of the new space at University of York will offer exceptional quality living spaces for students.

“By embracing modern methods of construction (MMC), GRAHAM is proud to have delivered sustainable residences that had the designs meticulously developed using an extensive dialogue process involving all the key stakeholders, ensuring the development addresses the needs of both students and the wider university community.”

 

Hugh Crossley, chief executive officer for Equitix, said: “Our investment at York extends beyond rooms and responding to capacity issues, it delivers accommodation that promotes a truly enhanced student experience.

“Equitix fully understands the influence the built environment has on the overall university experience and as such we have worked with our partners to ensure we have developed a bespoke, high quality scheme that permits students to live, study and socialise in comfortable, safe and inspiring spaces.

“From the employment of offsite manufacture, to the integration to the university’s district heating system the development is an outstanding addition to Equitix’s portfolio of student accommodation projects.”

 

 

Vice-Chancellor of University of York, Charlie Jeffery, said: “Increasing our provision of high quality on-campus accommodation is a key priority for us and the opening of 1,480 new bedrooms this year without any delays to the project is fantastic news.

“These two new colleges offer us much needed extra space and help us keep pace with the growing demand for on-campus accommodation.”

 

Harvey Dowdy, director of technology, estates and facilities at the university, added: “Our new colleges are a fantastic asset to the university. To deliver a project of this size through a global pandemic is a tremendous achievement for everyone involved.”

Source: The Business Desk

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5 reasons to think Modular first for school construction projects: Crown Commercial Service

Demand for school and college places and the buildings needed to accommodate learners is rising in the UK. However,with funding at a premium, those tasked with making safe, inspiring educational spaces face tough decisions.

Modular buildings offer a cost effective and less disruptive alternative than traditionally constructed buildings. They can be made to fit your school or college’s unique requirements, working with the space you have available and building in the features you need.

Modular buildings and modular classrooms in particular have evolved significantly over the last few decades. Today’s clean, linear buildings offer cheaper, bespoke solutions, minimum material wastage and lower energy bills – a far cry from the draughty school portacabins of the past.

Modern modular classrooms are well-insulated, precisely designed and manufactured, and an attractive option for schools and colleges across the UK. Modular buildings can be designed to match your requirements and can range from one standalone room to a block of interconnecting classrooms, with common areas or offices if required.

Using teams of educational specialists throughout the design process, these modular buildings are built to be modern, stimulating spaces filled with natural light and serving as inspirational learning spaces and impressive locations for extra-curricular activities.

Here are 5 reasons why you should consider modular buildings for your next building project.

Sustainability

Do you want to boost the sustainability of your project? Modular buildings are not only commonly created from recycled materials, they can more easily be recycled themselves. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is common across the modular industry, increasing the focus on energy efficiency, and green technologies like solar panels can be seamlessly incorporated into the project at design stage. Modular buildings can reduce your carbon footprint too; 67% less energy is used in creating a modular build versus its equivalent traditional build. Modular buildings are also proven to cause less damage to both the water table and the roots of any nearby trees.

Problem solving

Modular buildings are constructed 50% faster than traditional builds, on average. They can also be easily expanded, relocated, refurbished, and reused – perfect for solving any problems you might not have budgeted for. Pre-constructing the building indoors also removes the constant threat of the Great British weather creating hold-ups, helping you to deliver projects on time.

Health and Safety

Avoiding the danger of traditional building sites by creating your new buildings in controlled manufacturing settings is a big plus point for schools where the safety of pupils is paramount. The Health and Safety Executive reports more than 50,000 non-fatal injuries on building sites each year. Having your modular buildings created off-site, where safety measures can be monitored more effectively, will lower the risk of accidents.

Speed and efficiency

As much of the work is done in advance and off-site, the construction site at your school will be minimal, creating less disruption for pupils and teachers.

Any problems that occur during the construction process can be easily solved by the team of experts during the manufacturing process, which means less work and disruption when they arrive.

Optimised site management

Constructing new school buildings often means local road closures, more heavy goods vehicle traffic, noise, and air pollution, and risks to pedestrians and other road users. Schools usually have to carry out their construction work during holidays, when roads are quieter. Simply put, choosing modular buildings causes far less disruption

A simple, low cost way to meet your modular requirements

Crown Commercial Service has designed their Modular Building Solutions with education customers in mind.

There are 19 suppliers to choose from, including 10 who are able to provide education-related buildings. This framework is the perfect way to improve and expand your school or college. Modular buildings can be designed, delivered and constructed more cheaply and more quickly than traditional building methods and thanks to improvements in the manufacture and construction process their carbon footprint is smaller too.

Crown Commercial Service is here to help

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is an Executive Agency of the Cabinet Office, supporting the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services.

To find out more visit the Modular Building Solutions section of CCS’s website, download our digital brochure or email info@crowncommercial.gov.uk to request a copy.

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