Modular buildings for new spaces at schools

• Using modular buildings to provide more space
• Procuring a modular buildings
• Maintaining your modular buildingsMaintaining your modular buildings
• Upgrading your modular buildingsUpgrading your modular buildings
• Conditions for keeping a modular buildings at your schoolConditions for keeping a modular buildings at your school
• Using modular buildings as temporary accommodationUsing modular buildings as temporary accommodation
• Examples of modular buildings at schoolsExamples of modular buildings at schools

Using modular buildings to provide more space

If there is a requirement to build a new space at your school, consider using modular buildings.

You can read the full Ministry policy on modular buildings procurement .

Modular buildings are:

• built to exceed the minimum standard used for permanent school buildings, making them suitable as temporary or long-term space solutions
• installed quickly with minimum disruption to your school
• suitable for many different sites
• built in a factory, making the process quicker and safer than an onsite build
• easy to relocate from one school to another.

Modular buildings are flexible, so can be used for teaching, staff and student support spaces, such as:

• science laboratories
• technology blocks, including food, woodwork, metal work and electronics
• dance and drama studios
• toilets and changing rooms
• administration and reception areas
• libraries.

All modular buildings are built in factories to a high-quality standard. They:

• incorporate information and communication technology
• meet the Innovative Learning Environment criteria and the Designing Quality Learning Space standard
• meet all weathertightness requirements
• exceed minimum requirements on a range of extreme site conditions, including wind, seismic activity, snow and coastal exposure (this allows them to be placed on many different sites).

Procuring a modular building

The procurement process for getting a modular building purchased and delivered to your school is a lot quicker than for the usual new build project.

This is because you do not need to tender for a design team or contractor, or produce design and tender documents.

Having our provider build the modular buildings in a factory is also quicker, and safer, than building on the school site as the construction takes place in a stable environment.

Procurement roles and responsibilities

The contract management office’s role

Our contract management office:

• manages the demand and delivery of modular buildings nationwide
• manages the contract between us and the provider
• monitors and co-ordinates the national fleet of modular buildings
• responds to emergency situations.

The private sector provider’s role

The provider:

• plans and coordinates the designs with you
• prepares your school site for delivery
• manufactures and delivers the modular buildings
• obtains local authority consents and certificates
• removes the modular buildings when they are no longer needed and restores the site to its original condition, where practical.

Your role as a host school

You need to be involved with the initial design phase, and sign off the designs before they’re submitted to us. Although modular buildings have a standard design, you have a say on:

• where your modular buildings are placed on the school site
• the external colours
• fixed furniture and equipment options.

You are responsible for any wider project works, such as:

• using a master plan of the whole school to work out the best site configuration for your modular buildings
• demolishing existing buildings
• upgrading site services infrastructure
• excavating the site for any major works
• refurbishing existing buildings
• earthquake strengthening works on existing buildings
• arranging any additional works that are needed if getting a modular building is just part of a more complex project.

The wider work is done under a separate contract in the usual way using a project manager, and following our project management requirements .

Your project manager will need to make sure the delivery of the modular building is co-ordinated with other works onsite.

Procurement phases

There are 3 phases in procuring a modular building:

1. Project initiation: Funding is confirmed and your school is included in the demand forecast for modular buildings.
2. Project planning: Your project is planned and your school signs the conditions of use for modular buildings.
3. Project delivery: Your modular building is designed, constructed, delivered and installed. There is a post-occupancy evaluation after the accommodation period.