A new school year’s underway, and here’s what we know about the state of education:
- The generation now heading back to class is the largest since the Baby Boomers.
- School populations are projected to grow steadily through 2019.
- At $10 billion, U.S. spending on school construction is half of what is was prior to the recession.
- The American Society of Civil Engineers report on infrastructure gave our schools a D+.
Clearly, there’s a gap between the need for learning space and the resources invested in building it. Is modular an effective solution? We think so, and here’s why:
- It’s faster. Modular classrooms can be ready for teaching in weeks.
- It’s more affordable. Minimal site preparation and in-factory efficiencies make modular classrooms the more cost-effective solution.
- Buildings are expandable. As school populations grow, modular classrooms are easily added almost anywhere on campus.
- Modular is relocatable. Populations shift and needs change. Schools can move modular buildings around campus, and districts can move them from one school to another.
A growing number of schools and colleges agree and are looking at modular solutions. Here’s a look at a two schools that are setting the pace…
Fairhope High School (Fairhope, AL)
Lacking resources and the time to build new permanent buildings, Fairhope administrators chose portable classrooms from ModSpace. It was a lower-cost option that solved the school’s overcrowding problem faster. Watch the video below to see how modular classrooms solved an immediate need.
MiraCosta College (Oceanside, CA)
The southern California school invested $2 million in a state-of-the-art modular laboratory on its Oceanside campus. The lab will offer much-needed space for biology, chemistry and nursing courses. MiraCosta officials approved construction of a second modular science building on its San Elijo campus. Both sustainable buildings will be powered by solar energy.
The Future
As long as rising enrollments are compounded by shrinking budgets, the popularity of modular learning space will continue its meteoric rise.
Tells us your school construction story in the comments below.