Relocatable Classroom Design (Modular)

Partners | Modular Building Institute | Blazer Industries
School districts have many constraints when planning for new classroom space. They must respond to shifting populations and overcrowded schools, aging infrastructure, limited capital funding and ever shrinking budgets. Relocatable classrooms are often chosen by administrators as an expedient solution to many of these complex issues. In recent years, manufacturers and organizations such as the Collaboration for High Performance Schools have worked together to improve the quality of relocatable classrooms. Many manufacturers are now capable of producing cutting-edge modular classrooms.

Translations available at the bottom of the page.

Challenge

To develop innovative design for relocatable classrooms.

Partners

Modular Building Institute

Founded in 1983, the Modular Building Institute (MBI) is a non-profit trade association serving the commercial factory-built buildings industry on an international scale. Members include manufacturers and dealers of commercial modular structures. It is MBI’s mission to grow the industry and its capabilities by encouraging innovation, quality, and professionalism through communication, education, and recognition. MBI also oversees the commercial modular industry’s Code of Ethics and Conduct program.

For answers to specific modular classrooms questions, join the MBI discussion forum.

Blazer Industries

Blazer Industries is a "space" provider constructing buildings off-site in a controlled environment utilizing panel and modular technology. Since their first building in 1976 they have grown steadily to become the largest producer of modular space in the Northwest through innovative design and construction methods.

Both organizations have offered their technical assistance to designers entering the challenge. You can interact with modular professionals email us at challenge@architectureforhumanity.org

Location

Any school utilizing relocatable classrooms.

Need

School districts have many constraints when planning for new classroom space. They must respond to shifting populations and overcrowded schools, aging infrastructure, limited capital funding and ever shrinking budgets. Relocatable classrooms are often chosen by administrators as an expedient solution to many of these complex issues. In recent years, manufacturers and organizations such as the Collaboration for High Performance Schools have worked together to improve the quality of relocatable classrooms. Many manufacturers are now capable of producing cutting-edge modular classrooms.

• 300,000 relocatable classrooms are in use in the United States alone
• Nearly 2 in 10 schools in the US report problems with over-enrollment, with approximately 1 in 10 schools reporting enrollments greater than 125% of design capacity
• Many school districts finance relocatable classrooms through operations rather than capital budgets
• In Florida, as many as 75% of "temporary" classrooms are now considered permanent
• New studies suggest environmental factors, such as natural light and acoustics can impact math and reading scores
• Many new schools begin operation with relocatable classrooms already on site because planners underestimate increases in student enrollment.

Many school districts turn to portable classrooms as fast, cost effective, code compliant solutions to overcrowding. These units are less expensive than traditional school additions, and provide schools with more flexibility due to the option of leasing or purchasing. If buildings are leased, schools can use money from their operating budget instead of capital budget.

In general, a portable classroom can be acquired on average for $50,000, excluding transportation, site work, and installation, or roughly $50 per sq. ft. in the United States. However, there are many factors that will influence the cost of a portable classroom including the location, unique code requirements, performance upgrades, site work, and any specific regulations or requirements unique to that location.

Program

The design of a relocatable classroom will focus on creating inspiring learning and teaching environments for both students and teachers in a modular design to be largely constructed off-site. There are a number of elements to this challenge:

1. Designing a cost-effective classroom that is quickly deployable and re-deployable to accommodate shifting school district populations
2. Bringing natural light and ventilation into the classroom interior
3. Using healthy, natural, and sustainable building elements
4. Mitigating and minimizing impact on existing play spaces
5. Incorporate design elements that enable teachers to use the building itself as a learning aid and other strategies to make creative use of space to inspire learning
6. Lowering operating costs, including utilities and maintenance

The winning design will be a holistic solution that encompasses these elements to deliver an inspiring environment in a cost effective modular package.

The design approach must be easily adaptable to multiple sites and climates. It should be a source of pride for the school and the neighborhood.

Designers are not asked to address an entire school or administrative spaces within the school, however they should still think about how modular classroom design can be integrated into an existing school and/or campus.

Design Considerations

Designers are asked to take the information below into consideration as they develop their classroom design.

Teaching Aids and Storage

• Consider how various architectural elements such as doors, windows, walls, ceilings, and corridors can be used as learning aids to enhance the learning experience for students and teachers.
• Storage is a critical need. Explore how teaching aids can be stored and accessed.
• Consider display options and mounting solutions. How can teaching aids and student work be mounted and displayed within the classroom?
• Consider storage space for student coats and bags.

Technology

• Designers should consider technicalities involved in integrating internet access and communications with the existing school structure into the learning environment.

Leasing and Procurement

• The design should incorporate design economies and features that could enable a leasing agent to be more competitive in the marketplace

Site Planning

• Because of space constraints, relocatable classrooms are often sited on playgrounds and sports fields. Consider mitigating and minimizing this problem in your design
• Because the solar orientation of relocatable classrooms will change from site to site, consider designing a classroom that will work with two differing solar orientations.
• Relocatable classrooms are too often perceived as an eyesore on school campuses. The design should complement, rather than distract from surrounding architecture
• Footings for temporary buildings are usually constructed of concrete block piers with special attention paid to the mating line between modules. Permanent placements are set on poured concrete full perimeter foundations.
• Site prep includes insuring adequate drainage to prevent moisture in the crawl space.
• Avoid placement near outside noise and pollution sources such as near parking lots and traffic

Design Requirements

The following guidelines must be considered in the design solution

Manufacturing Constraints

• A modular building can be configured from multiple individual modules of various lengths and widths
• Module widths are typically 8', 10', 12', 14', or 16' with 12' and 14' the most common.
• Module lengths are up to 70', usually in 2 foot increments
• Labor costs are comparable to site built construction. However, you can save money by saving time. Minimizing site prep and assembly steps saves money.

Transportation Constraints

• Modules greater than 12' wide and 40' long may require special permits to travel the highways. (More than one module can be used to construct a classroom)
• Module heights vary from approximately 11' 6" to 13 feet, not including transport trailer
• Multistory buildings are possible by stacking modules if allowed by local code

Architectural Constraints

• Wood frame construction is the most common, however many manufacturers are utilizing light gauge steel and concrete as well.
• Zero or low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emitting interior finishes
• Consider thermal comfort within the context of local climate
• Acoustic provisions: maximum background noise level should not exceed 45dBA, with a goal of 35dBA as established by ANSI standard S12.60.

MEP Considerations

• Restrooms and plumbing should not be located on the "marriage" line between modules to reduce on-site assembly complexity. It is not necessary for the restrooms to be located in the classroom, provided that adequate facilities are within a reasonable travel distance as set forth in the local building codes.
• Classrooms may include necessary plumbing facilities or should be located within reasonable travel distance to code compliant facilities. (i.e. within 500 feet)

Important CHIPs Standards

• Natural and artificial lighting combined for 25 to 50 foot candles on student desks. Consider variable or situational lighting with 50 foot candle minimum and able to step down
• Energy efficiency to exceed California Title 24 minimum standards. Check local energy codes.
• Ventilation to supply 15cfm fresh air per occupant
• Artificial lighting consumes no more than 0.8 watts per square foot
• At least one square foot of overhead day-lighting for every 15 square feet of floor space

Design teams must illustrate how their classroom design meets these requirements through sectional diagrams.

Safety Considerations

• Classroom should be oriented to provide visibility from “main building”.
• Consider communication capabilities between relocatable classroom and main building.
• Consider travel/walkways between relocatable classroom and main building (i.e. covered walkways, distance to main building entrance, etc.)

Budget

• $USD 100,000 (70,000 euros) maximum budget for construction and site prep.
• Total costs should not exceed $USD 100.00/square foot and 750 euros/square meter
• Cost saving measures should be highlighted in the design.

Student Collaboration

Architects and designers must partner with schools and students. This partnership can engage students of any age. A design curriculum (link) developed by Architecture for Humanity geared towards secondary school students will be freely available for use in conjunction with the competition. Use of the companion curriculum is not required in order to enter the Open Architecture Challenge; however, some form of engagement with partner schools is strongly encouraged. School engagement can include one or more of the following activities:

• Students partner with the designer in the design process
• Examples of original student work should be included with submission
• A survey (3-5 questions) completed by students (download example)
• A letter of support from school administrators indicating their interest in implementing the design should it be selected as a finalist
• Architects and Designers must demonstrate how student voices were included in the final design on the presentation board.

Get creative. Let us know how you engaged students and teachers in the design process. Include documentation as an optional file in your submission materials.

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Please note: Additional information may be added to assist participants during the course of the challenge. Please check this website periodically for updates.

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