the new Thomas Aveling modular build from above

Modular 2 Storey Classroom Building for Thomas Aveling School in Rochester

the new Thomas Aveling modular build from above

Project Details

Location: Rochester
Client: Medway Council
Employers Agent: Bailey Partnership
Principal Designer: Enviro Building Solutions
Contract Type: JCT Design & Build Contract 2016

Project Summary

  • New two storey modular building on occupied school site
  • Extension to traditionally constructed changing rooms
  • MUGA sports canopy
  • 28 modular bays
  • 8 classroom block, washroom facilities, offices, plant rooms
  • Floor area 1000m2
  • Brick slip, vertical and horizontal composite cladding finish externally
  • Steel canopy with polycarbonate covering
  • Aluminium windows and doors
  • Installation of teaching walls in classrooms
  • All groundworks, foundations and drainage
  • Fire detection and intruder alarm installations
  • Completed October 2020 (MUGA Canopy January 2021)
  • Project value £2.1m excluding MUGA Canopy, £2.75m including MUGA Canopy)

The Challenge: Expanding teaching spaces and improving sporting facilities

The Thomas Aveling School is the joint lead school of the Fort Pitt Thomas Aveling Academies Trust (FPTA), which incorporates a grammar school, two high schools and two junior schools. Serving almost 1200 pupils aged from 11-19, the school is co-educational and non-selective as well as being a converter academy with specialist teaching areas for science, design technology, art and sport and a performing arts centre.

“Enviro were able to successfully deliver this project during a very difficult time (COVID-19). They remained committed to delivering the project throughout.”

Stuart Collingwood, Director Building Surveyor, Bailey Partnership

The modular element of this build called for the construction of a 2 storey prefabricated classroom buildings block to provide additional teaching capacity. This comprised of 8 classrooms in total with washroom facilities, offices and a plant room.

It would also serve as an extension to the school’s existing sports changing facilities using traditional construction methods. In addition, the project involved the construction of a MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area) canopy to cover the existing tennis courts, creating an all-weather play facility.

underneath the new Muga canopy at Thomas Aveling schoolManaging the planning elements

This was a major building project managed under a PCSA (Pre-Construction Services Agreement), enabling Enviro Building Solutions to contribute to the design process, then a PPA agreement which gives greater certainty to the planning process, fostering a collaborative approach to designing better developments.

one of the washrooms at Thomas Aveling schoolImportantly, a PPA contributes towards the certainty of timescales for reaching a decision and a specific planning committee date to work towards. As a direct result of this approach, the team from Enviro Building Solutions was on-site at Thomas Aveling School just two weeks after planning permission was granted.

Overcoming pandemic supply chain issues

The project on-site began at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Although this has impacted upon the schedule for the build due to restricted availability on a range of materials, the extension to the changing rooms was completed in time for the start of the new term, as originally planned. The new classroom block was commissioned over half term and ready for use at the beginning of November.

Thomas Aveling School viewed from the skyOther issues which could have impacted on the build but were successfully managed by Enviro Building Solutions included the effects of Storm Francis in August. Torrential rain and storm-force winds took a whole bay off a low loader en route for Rochester. Prompt action by the team overcame logistical and manufacturing challenges to ensure there were no resultant delays to the project.

Incorporating external and internal finishes

This significant modular build sits well in its chosen position on-site, featuring an attractive combination of brick slip, vertical and horizontal composite cladding externally complemented by aluminium windows and doors. There are internal staircases to either end of the building, together with teaching walls installed in classrooms, integrating front of class storage provision with whiteboards and classroom technology.

one of the new modular classrooms at Thomas Aveling school

Planning conditions for the project also called for major landscaping works, with hedging and planting for shielding purposes to screen the site from the surrounding residential areas.

Sustainability

From a sustainability point of view, the building achieved a strong EPC B rating, with carbon emissions and U-values significantly exceeding the minimum standards. With grid-supplied electricity in a building environment classed as mixed-mode with natural ventilation, the building emission rate has been measured at 14.87kgCO2/m2 per year.

Despite the supply chain and associated challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic, Enviro Building Solutions were committed to maintaining the original build schedule as far as possible. As a result, the changing rooms were delivered on time and the classroom block just a few short weeks later. The final phase of the build covering the installation of the MUGA canopy was completed as planned early in 2021.

Modular changing rooms

Modular Sports Pavilion Design, Construction and Fit Out – Birmingham

Modular changing rooms

Project Details

Location: Cofton Park Sports Pavilion, Cofton Park, Birmingham
Client: Birmingham City Council
Employers Agent: Acivico (Design, Construction & Facilities Management) Ltd
Principal Designer: Enviro Building Solutions Ltd
Contract Type: JCT Design & Build Contract 2011

Project Summary

  • Modular building incorporating two team changing rooms, showers, accessible changing facility, referees’ changing room, general meeting room, WCs, kitchen and store area
  • Floor area 152m2
  • Seven modular bays
  • Combination of colour contrasting plastisol and rendered fascia
  • One way fall pitched Kingspan roof
  • All groundworks, foundations and drainage
  • Fire detection and intruder alarm installations
  • High level windows
  • Completed August 2016
  • Project value £235,000

The Challenge: Creating a modular sports pavilion for a local park

Birmingham’s Cofton Park consists of 135 acres of rolling fields and trees, and features open grassland with football pitches used by the local community. The land was bought by Birmingham City Council in 1933 as a result of a legacy from William Walter Hinde, once a leading Birmingham manufacturer. In his will he left the residue of his estate ‘for the purchase of land to be kept for ever as an open space for the benefit of the people of Birmingham’.

Cofton Park Birmingham
Cofton Park, Birmingham – Image Credit

Following a competitive tender process, Enviro Building Solutions was commissioned to design and build a modular sports pavilion, bringing together facilities including changing rooms, showers, a meeting room, store area and kitchen for use by local sports teams including Cofton Athletic Football Club.

“Modular building techniques provided the ideal solution to create a sports pavilion for Cofton Park, bringing together all the advantages of speed of construction, minimal disruption on the park and offsite construction of the individual key elements which matched the project deadlines and provided quality changing facilities for a range of sports taking place in the park, including youth football.”

Jonathan Collins, Managing Director, Enviro Building Solutions

Two team modular changing facility

Enviro Building Solutions commenced the works by stripping the site and completing a reduced level dig to house the foundations for the new sports pavilion. Groundworks included the creation of necessary foul and surface water drainage systems.

Whilst this work was in progress, the individual modular units were under construction at Enviro’s factory, with concurrent works successfully shortening the build schedule.

Installing a modular building in sectionsOnce delivered to site, the modular units were swiftly assembled and the interior fit out completed. This included all mechanical services for plumbing and heating, incoming mains supply, fire and intruder detection alarm systems and cabling for IT. Practical and hardwearing aluminium windows and doors, including high level windows for the changing areas, complete the building.

A building to match the environment

This was a unique modular building challenge, with the exterior designed to match and blend with the surrounding parkland. Clad with green plastisol and featuring a cream rendered fascia with a one-way fall pitched Kingspan roof in terracotta, the completed construction sits within its environment without detracting from the rolling scenery.

Prefabricated sports pavilions provide a fast track option for clubs, schools and other organisations looking to upgrade or extend their facilities. With the majority of the build completed offsite, Enviro can achieve minimal disruption during the build period and fast turnaround times.

The project was carried out over an eight-week time frame and completed on time and to budget, providing the local community with a high quality sports support building and enhancing the facilities at Cofton Park.