Addressing limited classroom spaces with portable classroom relocations

Thinkspace Architecture Planning Interior Design has been working on portable relocation projects on more than 75 different school sites to help address the lack of available classroom spaces in various school districts.

Recently, class sizes were reduced in B.C., creating a shortage of classroom space in many schools across the province. School District #36 (Surrey) is one example of a district that is working towards accommodating a growing student population; currently they are experiencing a population growth rate of 10,000 new residents annually. This, in addition to reduced class sizes, means that classroom space is at a premium. The Surrey School District is not alone in this problem, and in the last year, Thinkspace Architecture Planning Interior Design has been working on portable relocation projects on more than 75 different school sites to help address the lack of available classroom spaces in various school districts.

Portable classrooms may not be ideal, but they are important as they offer a relatively quick solution to providing more classroom spaces rather than holding classes in a gymnasium or library. Our experience over the years has allowed us to identify many challenges that may present themselves during preparation of permit documents for a portable classroom relocation. Often, the most difficult part of a portable relocation is choosing the best placement on site while conforming to current building code and zoning regulations. These challenges include:

The portable classroom can be connected independently to site services or connect to the existing school, depending on what capacity is available.

• Fire protection – We have encountered many challenges with BCBC limiting distances, fire access routes, and fire hydrants. Limiting distances restrict where a portable classroom can be placed on site, as well as dictating fire ratings and construction materials; sometimes the ideal location is not permitted. Additionally, oftentimes the portables cannot be placed close enough to a fire access lane or fire hydrant, so new access lanes and hydrants need to be provided.

• Zoning regulations – locating a portable on an existing site means that all current zoning regulations must be met. The most common problem this presents is regarding vehicle parking and setbacks. We have found in many cases that

Locating a portable on an existing site means that all current zoning regulations must be met.

older schools do not have sufficient parking by current regulations, and more parking stalls must be added, or a variance permit applied for to allow an exception to be made. Additionally, we have encountered cases where the site setbacks do not allow convenient siting, also requiring a variance.

• Site conditions – existing site conditions including trees, grades, lighting, protected environmental zones, and available space all influence portable placement as well. Trees may need to be removed, usually requiring they also be replaced, or they may be bylaw protected trees that you can’t build within a specified distance of. Grades may be so steep that concrete platforms or retaining walls need to be built to achieve accessible access. Site lighting might not be sufficient and new lights must be installed. Protected environmental zones, such as Riparian zones may not allow you to build within their boundaries.

• Site services – some portables require sanitary, water, or gas connections, and all require electrical connections.

Depending on where the portable can be placed on site by BCBC and zoning regulations, this can sometimes be quite challenging to achieve. The portable classroom can be connected independently to site services or connect to the existing school, depending on what capacity is available from the existing school. Additionally, all portables must connect to the fire alarm system, which typically has extra space available, but not always.

• Washrooms – the existing school must provide an adequate number of washrooms by BCBC, or washrooms must be added to the portable classroom.

The challenges outlined above include the ones most commonly encountered during portable relocations. In addition to portable relocations, Thinkspace has completed more than 100 projects to assist school districts meet their space requirements through new builds, additions, renovations, seismic upgrades, and other miscellaneous projects. n

University Hill Secondary School, Vancouver

Mar Jok Elementary School, Kelowna

Design & Construction | Renovations & Additions | Building Envelope Design Maintenance Projects | Seismic Upgrades | Portable Relocations | Long Term Facility Plans Project Identification & Definition Reports | Prefabricated Modular Construction

architecture planning interior design t (604) 581 8128 | (250) 762 2503 www.thinkspace.ca

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