a.aa MMC M11 52pp Web

Education & Student Accommodation
Modular Buildings Meet Demand
for Bigger & Better Schools
The demand for new school places and the crumbling state of primary and secondary schools is a pressing issue for Local Councils all
over the UK. The situation, however, is starting to improve thanks to Government funding – in 2017 a pot of £2.4 billion was allocated for
their improvement and maintenance.
Presuming that funding is in place,
Councils still face a number of challenges
before building can take place. For
example, focus on the environment and growing
energy costs mean that Councils are under more
pressure than ever to deliver low energy, efficient
spaces – all while sticking to budget. Safety of
pupils and minimising disruption during term
time of course remain pressing issues.
This need to focus on myriad issues, including the
small task of ensuring the future sustainability of
schools in their area, means that Councils are
uniquely placed to take advantage of modern
methods of construction.
Modular schools, delivered to site in segments
over 2 or 3 days, such as those manufactured
and installed by Wernick, are helping to solve
many of the challenges presented by the
education sector. And new frameworks are
revolutionising the school building procurement
process.
Wernick Buildings’ Divisional Manager for
Scotland Chris Hart says that there is a “felicitous
synergy between the education sector and
modular construction”. Last year, the Wernick
Scottish division experienced its busiest summer
to date, tripling its turnover. Summer 2019 is
expected to be even busier following the Scottish
Government’s announcement of a £1 billion fund
for rebuilding and refurbishing Scotland’s schools
in November 2018.
Edinburgh, Inverness and Highlands Councils
took receipt of ten new modular buildings from
Wernick last summer. Installation, fit out and
inspection took place over the summer vacation
and the buildings were ready for pupils upon
returning to school.
Ben Wernick, Director of Construction at Wernick
explains: “Modular building projects can be
completed up to 50% quicker than traditional
construction methods as the indoor ‘offsite’
construction process can take place alongside
site and foundations work which also means very
little delay due to the weather. Finishing buildings
over the summer holidays means no disruption to
teaching and no risk to pupils.”
More and more schools are switching on to the
speed of factory manufactured buildings, but what
about the aesthetic? The characterless
demountables of the past have given way to
digitally-led, modern designs, indistinguishable
from ‘on-site’ constructed buildings and lauded by
architectural firms such as ÜberRaum and
Glancy Nicholls.
“The preconceptions are there but the reality is
that when people walk into a modern modular
building that Wernick has made, they realise this
is a big step up from what they’re used to”
commented Chris Hart, who has found that old
feelings towards modular buildings die hard: “I’ve
heard of teaching staff trying their best to avoid
moving into the new building. Once the building
has been handed over, they are trying to get in
there first! They’re warmer, cleaner, bright and airy.
From a teaching perspective, it’s a considerable
improvement on a lot of the accommodation the
teachers are currently working in.”
Constructing buildings offsite, in a controlled
environment, means that a building can be made
water-tight and weather resistant with quality
controls ongoing throughout the build. Modern
modular buildings are simple to maintain, are well
insulated and achieve high EPC ratings – and
green technologies can be easily incorporated
into the design to further support their eco
credentials.
Chris Hart says that the feedback on Wernick’s
projects has been overwhelmingly positive,
adding: “Using factory construction, we can build
faster, to higher standards, and at any time of the
year. There are also environmental benefits with
reduced waste and less emissions. In modular
construction we can really meet a lot of the
requirements in the education sector – that’s why
we think it’s a perfect match.”
www.wernick.co.uk
20
Swansea University
Active Classrooms