The Offsite Guide to MMC in Education
MMC is increasingly being utilised to meet the unique needs and challenges of construction projects within the education sector. There are huge benefits to using MMC within education as it offers a more cost-effective and efficient solution at a time when education services and budgets are under increasing pressure. In this guide, we explore the scope for MMC in education and consider how it can provide solutions to the unique challenges of this sector.
MMC in Education
When thinking of how MMC is used in the education sector, most people would think of traditional volumetric modular buildings with fully integrated equipment and finishes, such as the traditional temporary 'mobile classroom'. While this is certainly one part of the scope for the use of MMC in education, there is a much wider range of solutions available. These include:
System-build wall panels
Structurally insulated panels (SIPs)
Passivhaus timber frame modular building
Light gauge steel frame (LGSF)
Traditional volumetric modular buildings
MMC can be utilised for both temporary and permanent solutions within the education sector. It is being viewed as a way to deliver cost-effective and energy-efficient buildings in a short time frame. MMC is being backed by the UK government as the most viable solution to construction challenges faced within the education sector. In January 2020, The Department for Education (DfE) announced the launch of the offsite school's framework (MMC1), which is expected to deliver 30 schools each year by 2024 with funding of £ 3 billion.
The Benefits of MMC in Education
MMC offers many benefits to the education sector. Offsite and modular construction ensures that growing demands can be rapidly met while reducing costs and minimising disruption to teaching and learning. In addition, MMC helps to meet the demands for flexibility and adaptability within learning spaces over time while increasing sustainability and improving public health through smart contemporary and customisable design.
Minimising disruption to learning
With MMC, much of the construction process takes place offsite. This is ideal for education construction projects because it ensures minimal disruption to teaching and learning. Construction sites present several challenges to educational facilities, including noise disruptions and access requirements potentially compromising safeguarding and health and safety policies. By completing most of the work offsite, education centres can continue to operate as normal while buildings are being constructed. With effective project management, the time spent on site can be kept to a minimum and managed in a way that ensures the least possible disruption.
Improving public health
The Covid-19 pandemic confirmed what was already known – that many existing educational facilities in the UK had failed to consider public health in their design. Many educational buildings were constructed many decades ago and are now over-occupied with poor airflow and hidden dangers, such as asbestos, threatening the health of those working and studying in them. With urgent action required to make educational buildings fit for purpose, MMC is increasingly being viewed as the best possible solution to meet these challenges with smart, contemporary and customisable design.
Cost efficiency
The budgetary challenges within the education sector are well documented. Due to the offsite manufacturing style, MMC typically comes with significantly reduced costs compared with traditional construction methods. This is because the entire process involves less time spent on site. Construction sites are costly to run, so by reducing the time spent on site, costs are naturally reduced without compromising on build quality.
Reduced build times
With school populations on the rise, educational centres are required to grow extremely quickly to keep up with the increasing demand for places year on year. By utilising MMC in construction projects within the education sector, turnaround times can be significantly reduced. The need for additional classrooms and other buildings can be met much faster than with traditional construction processes.
Flexibility
The requirements for teaching and learning spaces often change over time. Modular school buildings are much more flexible and adaptable, allowing for future changes of use, rapid expansion and the need to move facilities around a site or to different locations.
Sustainability
MMC offers greater sustainability compared with traditional methods of construction. Many emerging MMC technologies and solutions are utilising low-carbon and recycled products alongside energy-efficient build processes. This supports the drive within the education sector to become more sustainable in its buildings and operations.
Case study: School Modular Building at St Giles' & St George's Academy
When St. Giles' & St. George's Academy had an urgent need to accommodate a growing number of pupils, they contacted modular specialists Catfoss to design and deliver a modular structure. The project was to include a range of classrooms and amenities with the key challenge of ensuring minimal disruption to the school while the project was being carried out.
In order to minimise disruption to the day-to-day operations of the Academy, Catfoss designed and manufactured the majority of the modular buildings offsite. While this was being undertaken, the foundational work onsite was being carried out to ensure the project could be completed in the shortest possible time. The modules were delivered and installed during school holidays to keep disruption to a minimum. Once installed on site, finishing touches were carried out internally at the same time as external work on landscaping elements.
The effective planning and management of the project ensured that it was completed in just 17 weeks.
You can read more about this project here.