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Shelter Industries launches first of 138 modular kindergarten classrooms
Shelter Industries launches first of 138 modular full-day kindergarten classrooms
Shelter Industries unveiled their first state-of-the-art modular classroom as part of a $30-million contract with the Province of B.C.’s Ministry of Education to provide 138 modular classrooms for B.C.’s new full-day kindergarten program for the September 2011 school year.
“This is a really, really big deal. It’s a big deal for the Ministry, a big deal for the province and a big deal for Shelter. We are very happy to be working on this project,” says Rick Munn, Shelter Industries’ manufacturing manager.
The new classrooms are far from the typical school portable of yesteryear,
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which only had a 15-year lifespan. In fact, you really can’t compare them.
“This is different,” said B.C. Minister of Education Margaret MacDiarmid during a tour of the prototype in January 2011. “You can just tell by the feel of it. [Designed to last up to 40 years], these feel like a structure that could stay.”
In fact, when installed on permanent foundations, these buildings will provide the same feel and comfort as any site-built structure. Even those buildings that will be installed on temporary foundations will provide the warmth necessary to deal with a harsh winter in northern B.C. and the comfort of air conditioning on a sweltering hot day in B.C.’s Okanagan.
Mary Polak, Minister of Children and Family Development and Langley MLA, also attended the tour of the prototype, and agreed that these new buildings are the way of the future. “You can’t even call these buildings a portable. They are so night-and-day different. With imaginative and creative minds, this is a technology that is only
ready to advance,” Polak said.
“There is nothing like this anywhere else [in the province],” states Minister MacDiarmid. “These buildings are especially made.” Working closely with the Ministry and school district representatives, Shelter Industries advanced the design of these modular buildings to meet a superior standard, setting a new benchmark for modular school construction in British Columbia.
The classrooms are more spacious, with large functional windows, durable window roll shutters and security screens for enhanced protection, highperformance warm insulation (outside the framing), an energy-efficient HVAC system, B.C. wood exterior and interior finishing, and the infrastructure for full building services and computer technology. It also meets the latest seismic safety standards.
“You can see in the classroom real attention to detail,” Minister MacDiarmid comments. “It’s a great space for younger students. It’s airy; it’s bright. I love the windows and the natural light … the primary colours on the [ceiling] and … the cabinetry.”
“This is a great way to have gone,”
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EXPLORE THE ADVANTAGES OF MODULAR Call: 800.561.3822 | 604.856.1311 Email: sales@shelterindustries.com says Minister MacDiarmid. Although enrolment is declining in most B.C. school districts, there are some districts – or neighbourhoods within districts – that are experiencing growth. Modular classrooms are flexible, even when installed on permanent foundations, and can be moved or clustered in groups should enrolment forecasts change.
As a former school board chair, Polak agrees. “One of the really important features of these [modular buildings] is the flexibility. When you are managing changing populations in school districts,
changing the way you think about modular
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this is hugely important,” she says. Polak also adds that modular buildings provide a ton of savings in time and labour. Since the buildings are constructed indoors, poor weather doesn’t cause additional delays; also, foundations and site preparation can be done simultaneously with building construction. This translates into a cost savings, which means more money can be put into the classroom.
“Things have gone well from the point-of-view of these structures moving along. I can’t wait to see these classroom spaces filled with students,” concludes Minister MacDiarmid.
In total, 25 school districts will see 138 modular classrooms installed at about 100 sites across the province, with the first
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installations planned for New Westminster and Delta in February 2011. These new buildings will provide new classroom space for nearly 3,000 students, helping the province meet the needs of an estimated 40,000 full-day kindergarten students set to start school in September 2011.
Minister and MLS Mary Polak adds, “I am quite confident that [parents and educators] are going to be quite pleased to receive one [of these modular classrooms].”
From the words of kindergarten students and their parents, who also attended the tour, these new modular classrooms are destined to be a winner.
“It looks like a real classroom,” said parent Tracey Munday. Parent Sheri Williams agreed, “They look pretty amazing.”
SHELTER INDUSTRIES, a Greensmart Shelters company, has provided award-winning schools, colleges and daycares since 1985 — including a 198-modular classroom project for Alberta’s Ministry of Education. With manufacturing and sales facilities throughout B.C., Alberta and Asia, Shelter has designed, built and installed thousands of modular buildings throughout North America and around the world. From temporary modular units to luxury structures that rival site-built in quality and aesthetics, Shelter is changing the way you think about modular. For more information, please visit www.shelterindustries.com
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