Building Blueprints (Facilities in Focus)

Quick, Efficient Options

• By Liz Burnett
• 08/01/14

When one brings up modular construction in reference to education, it calls to mind the traditional white-clad, freestanding classroom brought in as temporary relief when a school outgrows its facility or an unforeseen emergency means an alternate classroom is needed. Ready at a moment’s notice, these freestanding portable classrooms have kept many school years on schedule.

However, Permanent Modular Construction is a growing trend in education facilities: These structures are intended to remain in one location for the duration of their useful life. The term “modular” simply describes the way the facility is built: In a controlled factory setting, workers build modules that are then transported to the construction site and are put on a foundation to stand alone or assembled to make up a larger structure.

In many cases, modular construction is the greener, faster, smarter way to build. Building modular offers a truncated construction timeline, which can allow needed buildings or expansions to be completed over summer break or another school holiday.

Despite popular opinion, modular structures are fully customizable. Modular construction has been used across the country for a variety of educational buildings, including dormitories, school buildings, and freestanding classrooms, just to name a few.

Modular buildings can be completed up to 50 percent faster than traditional site-built projects. Traditional timelines are linear, beginning with design and planning, followed by site preparation (footings and foundation); then mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP). Only when that is done can flooring, paint and fixtures be added, and finally occupancy.

Choosing modular allows many of these items to be done simultaneously:

After design and planning are complete, footings and foundation can be poured or prepared on-site, while at the same time the building construction occurs in a controlled factory setting. All units are built to the same local codes and standards as any site-built facility.

Four stages make up a modular construction project:

1. design approval by the client;
2. manufacture of module components;
3. transportation of modules to the construction site; and
4. erection of modular units to form a finished building.

In addition to the benefit of a shorter timeline, modular construction is fully customizable. It is important to note that if a project is to utilize modular construction most efficiently, the process begins at the design phase. The following are characteristics to keep in mind while talking to a modular-friendly architect.

• Wood frame construction is the most common type of construction, however manufacturers can also build with steel and concrete.
• Multi-story modular buildings can be built up to the maximum height allowed by local codes.


PHOTOS COURTESY OF NRB, INC.

• Restroom areas should be designed so that a module “marriage line” does not split the space.
• Multiple roof framing styles are available, including gables and dormers. Some can be completed in the factory, and some may require the installation of site-installed trusses.
• Buildings can be configured using modules of various lengths and widths: Three-dimensional modules (includes walls, floors and/or ceilings) have widths that are typically 8 to 16 feet, with 12 and 14 feet being the most common. Module lengths are up to 70 feet, usually in 2-foot increments. Heights vary from approximately 11 feet, 6 inches to 13 feet, not including the height of the unit’s transport trailer.

There are many success stories where the clients were able to build greener, faster, smarter education facilities using modular. A great example is The Basis Independent School that offers STEM-focused curriculum for grades K-12, in Brooklyn, N.Y., is in the process of constructing a 70,000 square-foot school building using 163 modular building blocks manufactured in a plant in Ephrata, Pa. The modules will be wrapped and shipped to the site in NYC, and will be put together to form five floors of education space. When assembled, there is no visual difference between the modular structure and one that was site built. The Basis project is on track to open this fall and provide a facility for 1,000 New York children.

— For more information on modular construction, or to find a builder or explore other modular case studies, please check out the Modular Building Institute homepage at www.modular.org.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .