Fact – new buildings come at a cost. They also involve a whole load of upheaval and construction-related disruption you can do without.
But what about if we told you that it is possible to create the additional space you need with minimal hassle? Without going over budget or being hampered by project delays? And that your new buildings can actually help you reduce your carbon footprint for many years to come?
Thanks to Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), building sustainable buildings that maximise energy efficiency is rapidly becoming a viable reality for schools of all sizes across the UK. In fact, MMC is really making its mark across the entire education sector, providing future-proofed, fit for purpose spaces that effortlessly tick so many crucial boxes.
Curious to know what those boxes are?
We thought you might be. Keep reading for all the details…
The NZB team has delivered countless education projects over the years, which have all come with their own unique vision and set of requirements, associated challenges and more. But despite the project differences, MMC is seen by our clients as being the preferred go-to solution because:
Reason #1: It’s efficient
Widely recognised as being more efficient than traditional bricks and mortar building methods, MMC projects can reduce construction time by up to 50%. They’re able to be progressed at pace, regardless of what the weather’s doing. All of the necessary components are built within factory-controlled environments and transported to site within the required timeframes. Once on-site, they are swiftly assembled, and if standard components are involved, then the building phase is even faster.
By incorporating standard components at Redmoor Academy in Leicestershire, we were able to turn the entire project around in record time. We achieved this by taking the design of the ground floor and replicating it on the first floor. The combination of these mirrored designs and standardisation resulted in the scheme being completed in just six weeks.
Reason #2: It’s flexible
MMC is the modern day definition of flexibility. One-storey, two-storey, five classrooms or ten, the beauty of MMC is that it can be used to turn your plans into reality, regardless of how grand or bespoke they may be.
Take Redmoor Academy, for instance, while the ground and first floor are exact replicas of each other, both floors actually incorporate a differentiating key design feature. On the first floor, there’s an entrance lobby for students, staff and visitors to use. Meanwhile, up on the next floor, instead of there being a reception area, which obviously isn’t required, there’s a kitchen within this space instead.
Reason #3: It’s sustainable
As we all know, the future is green and industries (the education sector included) are working hard to deliver on the Government’s Net Zero Strategy. While there’s a lot to achieve, significant strides forward are being taken, thanks to lean, clean and green solutions, including MMC.
From a company perspective, we are fully aligned with our parent company’s, Premier Modular’s, Net Zero by 2035 target. As part of this, we have delivered 120 EPC A-rated buildings to date. What’s more, all of the school buildings we have built so far are fully net zero in operation, reducing energy costs and increasing our clients’ sustainability credentials on multiple levels.
In fact, our MMC solutions aren’t just pioneering and built to the highest standard, they’re award-winning. Redmoor Academy is a Low Energy Project of the Year (Structural Timber Awards 2017) winner and an Energy Efficiency Project of the Year (Business Green Leaders Awards) winner. The two-storey 655m2 ultra-energy efficient building incorporates structural insulated panels (SIPs), improving the U-value and 160 PV panels to create an annual yield of 32,680 kWh), which have enabled the school to slash its annual energy bills by over £5,000.
Do you want to follow in Redmoor Academy’s footsteps by creating the additional space you need and accelerating your journey to zero carbon at the same time? Get in touch today to discuss your requirements with us.
