Portakabin delivers modular space for active schools
Modular building expert Portakabin has developed an exciting new product as part of its full turnkey school solution; a modular hall suitable for events, sports and assemblies.
Portakabin now has the ability to manufacture and install a double height space within six weeks.
Portakabin, the UK’s market leading modular construction specialist has developed an advanced product to enhance its ever evolving educational offer. Now schools, colleges and universities can benefit from a modular double height space; considerably reducing time on site and in turn, any disruption to students.
Traditionally built structures can take up to 14 weeks to deliver halls that provide 150-200m2 floor area whereas the modular solution from Portakabin is manufactured and installed with six weeks.
The space from Portakabin is designed to work in line with the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s (ESFA) requirement for primary school halls (180m² and ceilings of at least 4.5m in height) and it far exceeds this. The hall is also fully compliant on acoustics, lighting and floor finishes and can be designed to order, fitted with any additional fixtures such as fitness or AV equipment.
Modular buildings offer increased quality thanks to being produced offsite in a controlled factory environment and undergoing continuous rigorous checks. They also reduce health and safety issues associated with working at height and help reduce the number of trades visiting a site at any given time.
The first modular hall by Portakabin has been installed at Culverstone Green Primary School; the fifth on a batch of six primary schools being built for the ESFA for Phase 1 of the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP). Minimising on site disruption is critical for these schools as the construction and installation work takes place on live school sites. Once complete, children’s education will have had the minimal amount of impact as they continue to be able to come together and remain active whatever the weather.
Ruth Doughty, Head Teacher at Culverstone Green Primary School said: “Our new school building has been transformative: moving from our treasured yet small old building into a large, light airy space has been a wonderful experience.
“We have larger and more pleasant spaces to work in; we can move around the building with ease, there are more learning areas for small focus groups to use and the sports hall ensures that the children can enjoy PE with plenty of room to move around. We have already hosted two sporting events and parents and guests have had opportunities to visit and see for themselves this excellent new facility.”
Nick Griffin, General Manager for Sales at Portakabin comments: “We are always looking at ways to transform our products, provide innovative solutions and engineer better buildings. This double height modular space shows how we are continuing to challenge traditional perceptions of volumetric modular construction and drive our capability forward.”
The next school to benefit from the double-height modular space will be Priory Fields Primary School in Dover, the last school in this Phase 1 batch of the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP). Further developments are being made to potentially produce lecture theatres and multi-purpose space.
The Steel Construction Institute (SCI) has recently completed the assessment of the structural design methodology for the Modular Hall System, which has now been awarded SCI Assessed status.
posted by : Portakabin