The UK government’s appetite for modular construction was in evidence this week as the Department for Education awarded two school projects to the volumetric builder, Caledonian.
The combined value of the awards is £38m.
Nottinghamshire-based manufacturer Caledonian will build a £29m secondary school at the Sir Frederick Gibberd College (SFG) in Harlow, Essex, and replace the main school building at Haygrove School in Bridgwater, Somerset.
In November the government renewed pressure on the construction industry to modernise with digital design and prefabrication, saying it wants the techniques used to deliver £600bn worth of infrastructure over the next decade.
It said a school could be built in a few months rather than a year if components were standardised and built in factories.
Caledonian said it was selected for the projects because it offered a full turnkey package including lead design, planning, and installation, and because of its track record of delivering other modular schools.
The company’s architectural partner is HLM Architects.
"Haygrove and SFG are both large projects, which, alongside our other recent new business wins, underpin our future growth strategy," said chief executive Paul Lang.
Both schools incorporate factory-installed concrete floors, and up to 96% of the work on each module will be done in Caledonian’s factory.
While the modules are being manufactured, Caledonian will carry out groundworks on site.
The company said handover can be achieved in up to half the time it would take for a traditional build.
Image: Caledonian’s render of the new Sir Frederick Gibberd School
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