April 10, 2005 -- Off-site construction specialists and Portakabin subsidiary, http://www.yorkon.co.uk/[Yorkon], has completed the design and construction of a new school building for Leeds City Council. The 1,000 sqm facility for children with special needs was handed over just five months after the contract was awarded.
“ Now that the building is open, we have seen huge benefits to the school day and in the quality of education we can provid... ”
The original school was destroyed by fire, and has been replaced by a purpose-designed building on a new site adjacent to Farnley High School. Built around a central courtyard, the single-storey self-contained school accommodates 7 general classrooms; an ICT suite; design technology, science and food technology laboratories; music and art rooms, and offices.
Internally, the school has a light and bright design theme decorated in around 20 vibrant colours chosen by the children from each year. The building is constructed from 26 steel-framed modules, which were manufactured off-site and craned into position during half term. This approach minimised disruption to teaching at the adjacent school, which remained fully operational throughout the construction programme.
Peter Miller, Headteacher at the new West Leeds Specialist Inclusive Centre, said, “Everyone thinks the new school is brilliant. Parents, students and staff are all genuinely delighted with the facilities. The quality of finish is impressive, the design was sufficiently flexible to meet our requirements and the speed of construction was critical. Now that the building is open, we have seen huge benefits to the school day and in the quality of education we can provide.”
“The timescale for this project was challenging because the children from the original school were having to study in interim accommodation on split sites”, said Chris Langley, Operations Manager at Yorkon. “Off-site construction meant the new building could be up and running much faster – with a positive benefit to the children’s education and with significantly less disruption to the other school on the site.”
Yorkon designed, manufactured and fitted out the new school in a £1.2m contract, which also included provision of mechanical and electrical services, data cabling, laboratory facilities and benches, partitions and internal doors.
Yorkon has been manufacturing award-winning modular buildings for schools for more than two decades. This highly innovative method of construction is an efficient alternative to traditional site-based construction – saving time, guaranteeing quality and minimising disruption to teaching and local residents.
Editor’s Notes
1.
Off-site construction involves the manufacture of steel-framed modules in a factory environment, using production line technology, whilst the foundation works are completed on site. The modules are delivered to site by road where they are craned into position in just a few days ready for fitting out.
2.
Yorkon has recently been voted Off-site Manufacturing Specialist of the Year at the Specialist Contractor Awards for the second consecutive year. The awards are organised in association with the Department of Trade and Industry.
