NEW NURSERY BUILDING IS THE APPLE OF TEACHERS’ EYE
‘School’s out for summer’ took on a whole new meaning in the summer of 2010 when staff and pupils from Hartford Manor CP School in Cheshire left a depressing, decaying nursery and returned from their summer break to find a gleaming, bright new modular building in its place.
The striking new single-storey building reflects an ingenious redevelopment of the land of the former nursery and combines functionality with sublimely clean detailing and is the result of several years saving by the education team at Hartford Manor who funded the £125,000 nursery project.
The Portable Offices team worked in tandem with teaching staff to develop a design and room plan that incorporated all the elements necessary to provide an ideal teaching situation for young children.
This included interactive circular windows with low-emission glass at child height level to frame outside elements for educational discussions, low-energy lighting and fitments all to conform to the latest legislation.
An over-riding concern of the school was the need for a speedy construction to take place during the summer holiday period. This dictated a six week turnaround to include demolition of the old building and erection of the new 135 sq metre modular building.
Portable Offices’ team provided a ‘turnkey’ service for the school enabling the education staff and pupils to return after the holidays to a new, warm and bright open plan classroom, kitchen, toilets and office complete with disabled access.
Hatford Manor CP School Business Manager, Laura Williams, commented: “We went for a modular approach because it was the most cost-effective building method. However, we don’t feel it is a compromise at all. The rooms are warm, bright and airy. It is actually a very flexible space.
“The Portable Offices’ team was fantastic. They involved us at every stage and allowed us to make our own design decisions which resulted in the ultimate, flexible teaching situation.
“It was vital to us that we were able to open the new building when we returned in September and they really pulled out all the stops. We had a few small snags that emerged after we started using the building and they sorted them out straight away without any fuss.”
Produced from galvanised coated steel, the new low-maintenance building serves as a nursery in the morning, a free school in the afternoon and will soon provide an area for an ‘after school club’ too.
Modular Buildings from Portable Offices