Yorkon News Archives

13/02/2003 – Children from Telford visit their 'classroom of the future' in York

Children from two schools in Telford have visited modular building specialist and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, to see at first hand their new ‘Classroom of the Future' being built off-site in York.

The Borough of Telford & Wrekin project is part of a high profile Government-funded initiative to create one of 12 new prototype ‘Classrooms of the Future', which are pushing back the boundaries of construction technology, and design for teaching and learning.

Designed by Integer, the classrooms are now being manufactured and fitted out at Yorkon's production centre in York and will be craned into position in the Spring at two schools – The Lord Silkin Secondary School and Wrockwardine Wood Junior School.

Each classroom will be a totally self-contained building allowing for community use outside school hours. Groundbreaking technology and a range of new innovations in design and construction are creating two highly sustainable and energy efficient learning centres.

Features include:

The use of off-site construction to halve the build time and reduce disruption
A living sedum roof, providing a number of environmental benefits, such as oxygenating the air, encouraging wildlife and adding colour to the buildings.
Photovoltaic cells to generate electricity, and solar panels to provide hot water
Wind catchers to naturally ventilate the classrooms
Low maintenance western red cedar or metal mesh cladding to shade the classroom in summer and insulate the building in winter
Underfloor heating to free wall space for displays and teaching aids
Suspended gondolas to carry lighting and other services instead of traditional suspended ceilings.

Borough of Telford and Wrekin's Cabinet Member for Education & Training, Councillor Peggie Harrison, said, “We are using the latest in construction techniques and education design thinking. As part of the concept design, we asked pupils and teachers what they really want, and thought long and hard about sustainability. We believe we have a replicable and highly innovative design that will provide safe, comfortable and inspirational teaching spaces.”

She added, “The children have been involved in the project from the outset, so were delighted to have the opportunity to visit the factory, which really brought it to life. We are now looking forward to the next stage in the construction, when the classrooms arrive on site.”

“This project demonstrates how good design can be used to create really exciting education buildings with all the benefits of off-site construction”, said Keith Blanshard, Director and General Manager of Yorkon. “The modular approach is halving the programme time, guarantees quality, reduces disruption to teaching whilst the new classrooms are being built and, critically, will provide each school with highly flexible and energy efficient teaching accommodation to meet changing local needs.”

The classrooms are scheduled for completion in Spring 2003.

Editor's Notes

Yorkon's award-winning modular building system is an efficient alternative to traditional site-based construction, which saves time, guarantees quality and cost control, provides high levels of thermal efficiency, and is safer, quieter and cleaner.
Off-site construction involves the manufacture of steel-framed modules in a factory environment, using production line technology, whilst the foundation works are completed on site. The modules are delivered to site by road where they are craned into position in just a few days.
Yorkon is a subsidiary of Portakabin. For further information on the advantages of this innovative method of building, visit Yorkon's website, www.yorkon.co.uk.