Type of works: supply of seven Rapidplan™ 3000 modular buildings.

Wernick Buildings was on site for just ten weeks from start to finish at Coventry’s new Gosford Park Sure Start Children’s Centre. How did Wernick manage to complete the 257^m building so quickly? The seven Rapidplan™ 3000 modules that comprise the centre were delivered in just one day, during a half-term holiday, with internal and external finishing work occupying the remaining time.

A brick skin and pitched tiled roof completed the external finish of the building and under-floor central heating and paint-finished tape and fill walls completed the high specification interior finish.

The new building shares the same site as Gosford Park Primary School. Together they present an attractive, landscaped amenity for the local community.

Why did the client choose a steel framed modular building design, rather than traditional build? Firstly, there is the cost factor. A ‘design and build’ modular contract will generally be far more cost-effective than traditional methods of construction. Secondly, there is the time factor. The seven modules that comprise the new building were delivered in just one day, thus greatly reducing the project time which is generally 50% faster than traditional methods of construction. With modular build most of the construction is done at Wernick’s factory so the amount of heavy plant on a client’s site is dramatically reduced, thus minimizing environmental impact on the area and reducing health and safety risks.

A similar traditionally built structure would have taken around 21 weeks to complete. A greatly reduced on-site time scale is particularly important in a densely populated area, particularly at a nursery, school or college campus. The ability to schedule the delivery of a modular building to coincide with holidays or weekends is often a crucial factor for senior staff at educational establishments to consider.