14 Weeks from an Empty Site to a New School Building – with Modern Methods of Construction
See how Vision Built maximised the use of modular building and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) on a school development project in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
Project details
The addition of a special needs education facility to the long-established Tullamore College in Co. Offaly was made possible using modular units manufactured offsite and assembled onsite.
KEY STATISTICS
Many in the construction and education sectors agree the Irish Government now see modular as viable for school building. With the delivery of Lucan East Primary School in Dublin, and other modular projects nearing completion, this type of construction could soon become much more common – opening opportunities for off-site builders.
How can a construction sector with an opportunity to meet Ireland’s needs for more schools deliver for the next generation of learners?
Vision Built, based in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, is a leading off-site construction company specialising in designing, manufacturing and installing modular and light gauge steel frame (LGSF) panelised units. Vision Built has worked on 26 school projects for the Department of Education and Youth. The speed, efficiency, and quality of its modular and LGSF solutions have been pivotal in delivering builds for communities across Ireland.
One recent project is St Anne’s School, a new special needs educational facility in Tullamore College, Co. Offaly. At 840m² over two floors, the new building as part of the campus is constructed from 22 individual modular units. Each was designed and manufactured to 75% completion off-site at Vision Built’s manufacturing facility in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, before transport to Tullamore.
All 22 units were built in four weeks, while connection and finishing onsite took 14 weeks. This speed and effective delivery are major demonstrations of MMC's potential.
Brian Kennedy, Managing Director at Vision Built, elaborated on the project:
“Vision Built were chosen by the Department of Education and Youth to deliver the Tullamore College SEN building, a fast-tracked special educational needs school building delivered over an 18-week period onsite.
This important project consists of a two-storey permanent modular building meeting all the specified requirements for a special needs learning facility. The project was delivered on a live campus with minimal disruption to students and staff due to the high premanufactured value being delivered in our offsite manufacturing facility.”
Managing Director at Vision Built, elaborated on the project
A modular installation team assembled the modules for St Anne's School, starting with General Operators who panelise light gauge steel walls. Next, the frame for the modular unit is built. Then, the roof is built at a low level, to ensure the safety of the roofers, before it is craned into position. After, General Operators install the panelised walls, and then the unit is ready to be moved from the gantry and to fitout.
From here, specialists such as Technical Designer Matthew Smith will perform tasks such as levelling, window insulation, and checking that all modules are GREENGUARD certified. Finally, the unit is wrapped ready to be transported to the building site.
Across this whole process Quality Assurance Technician Dylan Henry performs checks to ensure works are carried out to the highest possible standard, while Ian Evans, Senior Manufacturing Manager, coordinates the entire project on the assembly floor and across design teams, subcontractors, suppliers, and onsite personnel. This ensures a high-quality final modular unit that fits project requirements.
This modular approach to construction has a broader effect on Vision Built beyond just being able to deliver high-quality projects faster and more efficiently. Off-site manufacturing means Vision Built’s team is local to the area around the Tubbercurry facility. Less commuting to site, safer indoor and more predictable work conditions, and more flexibility in work-life balance.
Matthew discussed how one of the big benefits of working locally is that it encourages young people in the area to consider construction as a viable career option where they can learn lots of new skills and work in a dynamic, ever-changing environment.
“We’re doing so many different jobs at once. You're getting trained up on loads of different jobs and skills and you're always busy. Some people don't like doing the same thing all the time, so you could be doing a different job every day.”
Design Coordinator, Vision Built
Dylan added that part of Vision Built’s value is developing local career prospects.
“It’s brought in a lot of jobs to this area ... I know personally from growing up here ... it wasn't that easy to get a job. But now, with places like this and how busy it is and where it’s going, it’s very valuable to have it [Vision Built] in a place like Tubbercurry.”
Quality Assurance Technician, Vision Built
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