Off-site construction specialist, Yorkon, has delivered a two-storey modular classroom building in a completely enclosed courtyard at Ninestiles School – an outstanding ‘convertor’ academy in Birmingham.
The sub-contract package was awarded to Yorkon by principal contractor Thomas Vale Construction.
This challenging project had to be delivered by Yorkon and Thomas Vale in a tight timescale in order to meet stringent funding requirements. The architects and project managers for the scheme were Ridge & Partners.
The scheme involved the use of a large 350-tonne crane to lift the steel and concrete building modules over the top of the existing school building and into a totally enclosed courtyard. Working closely with Thomas Vale and the school, the installation was timed to coincide with the half-term holiday, minimising any disruption to teaching.
The building has provided the school with six new classrooms to help meet the increased demand for places and has replaced an outdated facility. Features include brick cladding to the ground floor with a contrasting white finish to the upper floor; windows, doors and aluminium cladding panels in anthracite grey; a full height glazed stairwell, and a link corridor to the main school.
The facility also has a high performance concrete floor throughout, which was pre-installed in the Yorkon factory to further reduce work on site. This is a robust design option for high traffic areas and to reduce sound transmission.
Commenting on the project, Christine Quinn, Principal of Ninestiles School, said, “We really love the new building. Its design is fresh and modern, and the use of glass makes it light and airy. Two of the classrooms on each floor can be opened up into one large flexible space which allows more creative use of the teaching accommodation when we need it.”
“We felt the off-site approach was the only solution for this project given the building’s location in a totally enclosed courtyard with no vehicular access. The installation phase was exciting and impressive, and whilst we feared a high level of disruption during construction, this actually wasn’t the case at all and school life continued unhindered.”
“The whole construction team on this project has been courteous, professional and willing throughout, making it very easy. This has been a very positive experience.”
Martin Hier, Project Leader at Ridge & Partners, added, “The completed building looks great. We worked closely with Yorkon to ensure the highest standard of aesthetics with all the benefits of a standardised and cost-effective building model. There was a strong team ethos throughout, particularly in ensuring the project delivery was achieved to a tight timescale.”
“The off-site approach has also delivered greater cost certainty on the project and on a very difficult school site, dramatically reducing any health and safety concerns the client had.”
Off-site construction was chosen by the client team for this project because of the site constraints – the building is located in the centre of a courtyard with very little access for materials and equipment. The off-site approach allowed the building structure to be prefabricated and partially fitted out in a factory environment and craned into position over the existing school in just a few days.
With achievements well in excess of national standards, Ninestiles School now has academy status. It is a mixed comprehensive school catering for 1400 pupils with 60 students in the sixth form.
Yorkon has an extensive track record in the primary and secondary education sectors, having completed a wide variety of bespoke modular projects including self-contained teaching buildings, classroom extensions and complete schools, delivering all the speed, quality, sustainability and efficiency benefits of off-site construction.
