Leading offsite manufacturer McAvoy has recently delivered a new temporary classroom facility at The Bromfords Secondary School in Wickford, which was awarded through the Offsite Construction Solutions framework. It marks the latest in a series of projects aimed at addressing emergency school closures due to the prevalence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
Using advanced offsite manufacturing capabilities and featuring its innovative temporary SmartClass® solution, McAvoy delivered a comprehensive solution to meet the school’s urgent need for classroom space. Within eight weeks, the temporary classroom facility was installed and handed over, offering a sustainable, adaptable, and safe environment for students and staff.
McAvoy produced 42 SmartClass® modules within its 70,000 sq ft cutting-edge manufacturing facility, completing a substantial amount of work offsite. The installation of all 42 modules was accomplished in just five days. The two-level building includes six classrooms, two offices, shower and changing facilities, and restrooms on the first floor, plus eight more classrooms and three offices on the second floor, all tailored to fulfill the educational requirements of both students and staff.
To navigate the challenges of the school’s location in a residential area with narrow streets, McAvoy implemented a robust traffic control system, ensuring swift and smooth installation of the modules. With the site located within the existing school grounds, McAvoy established a separate entrance to reduce disruption further. The urgency of classroom closures due to RAAC prompted McAvoy to accelerate its manufacturing and installation process, facilitating the project’s rapid completion.
In addition to the Bromfords School project, McAvoy has also provided similar temporary SmartClass® solutions to various educational institutions throughout the UK. These include Kingsdown School in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, Parks Primary School in Leicester, and Hockley Primary School in Essex. Commissioned by the Department for Education, these projects played a crucial role in offering temporary accommodations for staff and students amidst emergency closures caused by RAAC.
Glen Busby, Director of Modular Rental & Sales at McAvoy, commented, “Delivering swift and reliable temporary space solutions for schools facing emergency closures is key to ensuring the continuity of education and the safety of students and staff. Our commitment to using advanced offsite manufacturing techniques, exemplified by projects like The Bromfords School, allows us to respond quickly to challenges like these. We are proud to support educational institutions across the UK with adaptable temporary and permanent modular solutions that meet their evolving needs.”
Chris King, Trust Business Manager at The Bromfords School, added: “We were impressed with McAvoy’s whole site management and excellent communication to keep us updated throughout. The use of modular construction benefited this project due to the speed of completion, and we were also able to continue with our teaching and learning while the project was underway. Any challenges were quickly resolved, and the team planned well around our normal school day to limit disruption. This included arranging deliveries around quieter periods, to reflect that the use of the main entrance needed to be used by both construction workers and our students. The overall impression of the temporary classroom facility is that it will benefit our students with its large, spacious and bright areas.”