While modular construction offers many benefits—notably less construction waste, project delivery efficiencies, and factory-controlled, high-quality fabrication—school districts frequently view modular as a temporary solution, and settle for units with poor design and low-quality materials. As a result, when the “temporary” modules inevitably turn into permanent structures, they fall short in terms of aesthetics and building performance.
Today, however, school districts are starting to look at higher-quality modular construction, with the understanding that the classrooms may remain on site for a number of years and must provide a proper learning environment, says Wendy Rogers, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Design Principal with LPA Inc.
Building Teams are using incremental improvements as a strategy to create better modular solutions. For example, in a recently completed a 35,000-sf modular two-story project, LPA pushed the manufacturer to upgrade many of its standard details in order to ensure that the products met the project’s design criteria.
When executed properly, prefab construction can offer column-free interior spaces that promote flexibility and access to crawl space, open ceilings that allow for easy technology upgrades, and rainscreen building envelopes that are highly insulated and allow options and variation for exterior materials, according to Chester Bartels, Senior Designer with Baltimore design firm Hord Coplan Macht.
For example, the firm’s modular learning studios at the Barrie School in Silver Spring, Md., easily convert into large group learning spaces, multiple small group collaboration areas, and a large town hall lecture room—all supported by flexible furniture, movable wall panels, smart boards, good acoustics, and strategically designed fenestration for optimized daylighting and views.
A recent exhibition, Green Schools, at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., included a green classroom called “Sprout Space,” developed by Perkins+Will. (See the time-lapse video of its construction at: http://www.nbm.org/media/video/green-schools/sprout-space-time-lapse.html.) P+W’s modular template in Sprout Space offers a healthy, sustainable, and flexible 21st-century modular classroom. The design incorporates passive and active green-building strategies and is highly customizable.
For instance, Sprout Space can incorporate sunshades, integrated rainwater collection, photovoltaic roof panels, LED lighting with lighting controls, efficient heating and cooling systems, and eco-friendly materials. “Sprout Space also features a dynamic plan that is well-suited for various teaching styles, seating configurations, and outdoor learning opportunities,” says Steven Turckes, P+W’s K-12 Education Global Market Leader. “Each classroom opens up to the outdoors through large bifold doors, encouraging experiential learning, expanding the classroom, and complementing numerous teaching methods.”
Because fabrication occurs simultaneously with foundation and site work, high-quality modular classrooms can be completed four times faster than conventional stick-built projects, says Turckes. Available in modules up to 1,500 sf in size, multiple buildings can also be linked together to create an entire school.
Another customizable modular template, called simply “sky,” comes from contractor Silver Creek Industries (silver-creek.net). This high-performance modular classroom, which has been approved by the California Division of the State Architect, offers two contemporary floor plans and a variety of interior and exterior finish options—low- and no-VOC finishes, paints, and adhesives, sound-absorbent surfaces, high-performance windows, clerestory windows, tubular skylights, and an occupancy- and photo-control dimming system.
Ryan McIntosh, LEED AP BD+C, Project Manager and Director of Design Services for Silver Creek, says that sky modules beat California’s Title 24 baseline by up to 45%. The module has been developed to meet the CHPS PreFAB rating system, a label that designates qualifying prefabricated classrooms for use in high-performance building projects. Schools and districts can apply the CHPS PreFAB rating toward CHPS Verified recognition for new classrooms.
Related Stories
Sponsored | | Nov 19, 2014
Long-life coatings vs. long-life screws
Are you concerned with the long-life protection of your metal building project? SPONSORED CONTENT
Sponsored | | Nov 19, 2014
Fire resistive, blast-resistant glazing: Where security, safety, and transparency converge
Security, safety and transparency don’t have to be mutually exclusive thanks to new glazing technology designed to support blast and fire-resistant secure buildings. SPONSORED CONTENT
| Nov 19, 2014
Must see: Arup, Damian Rogers propose urban surf park in Melbourne
The surfing pool would offer 98-foot-wide waves that would run the length of the 500-foot-long enclave.
| Nov 18, 2014
Architecture Billings Index dips in October, still shows positive outlook design services
Headed by the continued strength in the multifamily residential market and the emerging growth for institutional projects, demand for design services continues to be healthy, as exhibited in the latest Architecture Billings Index.
| Nov 18, 2014
New tool helps developers, contractors identify geographic risk for construction
The new interactive tool from Aon Risk Solutions provides real-time updates pertaining to the risk climate of municipalities across the U.S.
| Nov 18, 2014
5 big trends changing the world of academic medicine
Things are changing in healthcare. Within academic medicine alone, there is a global shortage of healthcare professionals, a changing policy landscape within the U..S., and new view and techniques in both pedagogy and practice, writes Perkins+Will’s Pat Bosch.
| Nov 18, 2014
Grimshaw releases newest designs for world’s largest airport
The airport is expected to serve 90 million passengers a year on the opening of the first phase, and more than 150 million annually after project completion in 2018.
| Nov 17, 2014
Nearly two years after Sandy Hook, the bloodshed continues
It’s been almost two years since 20 first-graders were shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., but these incidents, both planned and random, keep occurring, writes BD+C's Robert Cassidy.
| Nov 17, 2014
Hospitality at the workplace: 5 ways hotels are transforming the office
During the past five years, the worlds of hospitality and corporate real estate have undergone an incredible transformation. The traditional approach toward real estate asset management has shifted to a focus on offerings that accommodate mobility, changing demographics, and technology, writes HOK's Eva Garza.