Temporary school buildings offer schools and other learning institutions the solutions they need for their space needs serving as classrooms, staffrooms, libraries, sports facilities and all other kinds of facilities. The beauty of these temporary buildings is that schools can have them in place within a short period, and have them customised to meet their specific needs—keeping the school operating without too many interruptions.
This article looks in depth at temporary school buildings to help you as a headteacher, owner or any other decision-maker to make informed choices about temporary school buildings.
What are some of the situations where schools can use temporary buildings?
There are many circumstances in which educational institutions can use temporary school buildings to meet their space needs. Some of the situations include:
When there is over-admission
Schools, colleges and other learning institutions may have an enrolment number that is more than their capacity. This will put the existing buildings under pressure necessitating more space to accommodate the extra students. In such cases, temporary school buildings are a great solution because the schools can get them erected in a few weeks and help them to meet their space needs for classrooms, dining halls, and other facilities, as they plan to put up permanent structures or find other solutions.
When the school is renovating its facilities
During renovations of classrooms, libraries, dormitories and other facilities, schools can use temporary structures until they complete the renovations.
During tragedies and natural disasters
If a school suffers tragedies such as a fire or is hit by natural disasters like storms, earthquakes and others, which result in damages to their facilities, temporary school buildings can come in handy.
Also, if there is a pandemic like the recent COVID-19 pandemic that necessitated physical distancing of students and other people in enclosed spaces, temporary structures can offer the extra needed space needed to facilitate this.
What are some of the reasons to consider temporary school buildings?
Schools should consider buying or hiring temporary structures from reputable manufacturers and suppliers such as Smart-Space because they have so many benefits, which include:
Quick installation
Temporary school buildings are built off-site and the parts or modules are transported to the site for installation. This makes the construction process faster, cutting the installation time significantly. Thus, schools in need of urgent space solutions, say after a tragedy or to host some events, can use them as opposed to permanent structures which take longer to construct.
Cost-effectiveness
Installing a temporary building costs a fraction of the amount needed to erect a permanent structure. Therefore, schools facing budget constraints or looking for affordable short-term solutions can use temporary school buildings to fulfil their space needs. They can also consider hiring them, for example, clear-span buildings or tents that can host events such as graduations and open days thus saving on committing massive resources for a short-term facility.
Ecological-friendly
Because temporary structures are manufactured off-site and it’s only the assembly that is needed at the site, they avoid the use of heavy machinery and equipment, and lots of excavation and other activities that mess with the environment. In addition, the structures do not use many non-renewable resources like timber which saves on depleting such resources.
Versatility and flexibility
The beauty of temporary school buildings is that they are flexible and easy to customise to meet various school space needs. They can be used as classrooms, dining areas, sports facilities and others with some bit of customisation. These structures can also be extensions to existing buildings allowing the better utilisation of the facilities and can be made to have similar designs and colours to maintain the standards of the institution and uniformity.
What are some of the mistakes to avoid with temporary school buildings?
If a school is to get optimal benefits from their non-permanent structures, they need to avoid mistakes such as the following:
Not considering the specific needs of the users
When installing temporary school buildings, their intended use should be considered to adequately meet it. For example, a temporary classroom should be well-ventilated and have enough natural lighting.
Failure to consider future expansion
Just as permanent structures are built with future expansion in mind, it is vital to have the same in mind when erecting temporary school buildings. It is crucial to think about expansion as there may be a need for it to accommodate a bigger student population and other needs later.
Conclusion
Temporary school buildings offer a great solution to educational institutions’ space needs for amenities such as classrooms, labs and others. These structures are cost-effective, quick to install and flexible in use, thus are a good space solution for schools.
