3 minute read
Modular school classrooms: A new era
By Marianna Harley
The old, “cold, square box outside” that nobody wanted to be in.
Until recently, there has been a stigma around the portable classroom. Perceived as the “cold, square box outside” that nobody wanted to be in, today we know that a modern classroom can be designed to complement existing facilities and is a fast, flexible solution for schools and school districts working within a tight timeline and budget. South Burnaby Email: coqsales@rsl.ca
With advancements in design and engineering, modular construction has moved to the forefront as a viable alternative to “site built” for new facilities. Whether permanent or temporary, there are major advantages for schools and educational organizations to consider modular.
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Distributing Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heating Parts and Equipment to the HVAC and Refrigeration Trade. ment-imposed limits on class size often require school districts to add new or expand existing facilities. The flexibility of modular classrooms deliver valuable teaching space that grows with your school. Minimal site preparation also means your new modular classroom can also be added wherever you want them located. Modular, portable classrooms can also facilitate continued learning during new construction or extended building upgrades. With enrollment growing in some areas and declining in others, modular classrooms provide the flexibility to be moved or clustered should enrollment forecasts change.
Today’s modern school buildings should be comfortable, flexible and safe spaces. Leading modular builders now partner with architectural and engineering firms to collaborate on design and make sure all building-code requirements are strictly adhered to, with the added benefit that layouts that can be reconfigured for changing class sizes or uses in the future.
Modular buildings are constructed in a controlled factory environment, so you
Modern modular construction has opened a way for a more cost-effective and adaptable system.
can expect minimal vehicle traffic on site, as well as a shorter building schedule, a cleaner site and minimal disruption to your staff and pupils. Purpose-designed educational facilities are usually up in half the time of traditional construction. As the foundation and site work is being performed, the modular units are being produced at the same time.
Environmental advantages include maximizing natural daylight, ventilation for fresh air supply, utilizing recycled materials, solar power, and increased insulation and energy-efficiency to reduce utility bills and operational costs. New “built green” classrooms are becoming the standard rather than the exception.
It really is a new era for schools and school districts when it comes to expanding facilities. Modern modular construction has opened a way for a more cost-effective and adaptable system to grow for the future.
Marianna Harley is a senior account manager with Shelter Modular Inc., an award-winning, custom modular manufacturer located in Langley, B.C. Shelter has built full schools in rural areas, annexes in urban areas and in 2012, designed, built and installed 138 state-of the-art modular classrooms for the B.C. Ministry of Education full-day kindergarten program. For more information, visit www.sheltermodular.com. b
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