Cheap trailers and portable classrooms can be a quick fix for schools strapped for space, but the trade-off often comes at the expense of student comfort. Aware of the “crazy hot in summer and freezing cold in winter” conditions of these temporary trailers, Australian custom home builder Modscape wanted to create a more pleasant solution to the Keilor Primary School’s need for additional space without compromising on speed and efficiency. The result is a new permanent modular building that was constructed off-site, installed in just a day and built with high-performing paneling to ensure comfortable classroom conditions year-round.

Created in collaboration with Victorian project management firm Sensum Group, the new prefabricated building for Keilor Primary School in Melbourne consists of four teaching spaces, a library, an arts space and associated amenities for students and the staff. Modscape designed and constructed the structure as part of the Victorian Government’s Permanent Modular School Buildings Program, an integral part of a multibillion school construction process to precede the government’s Victorian School Asbestos Removal Program that will oversee the largest ever removal of asbestos from Victorian schools.

“The new permanent modular building offered a fast and efficient solution for the school,” the firm said. “With less time needed for planning and construction, the replacement of the older buildings containing asbestos could occur quickly — reducing disruption to students, staff and teaching programs. … Gone are the days of the crazy-hot-in-summer/freezing-cold-in-winter ‘portables’ of previous generations. … High-performing acoustic paneling and double-glazed windows are used in forward-thinking volumetric modules, creating a comfortable learning environment for the students of today and for generations to come.”

Related: This highly insulated modular home is completely self-sustaining

The building was constructed offsite in Modscape’s modular construction hub in Brooklyn in just 10 weeks — approximately half the time required when compared to a traditional build process. The modules were then installed in a day over the weekend, after which onsite and landscaping was carried out.

Photography by John Madden via Modscape

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Keilor Primary School by Modscape

Modscape has created an innovative solution to cheap, portable classrooms.

Rather than the uncomfortable trailers used temporarily by schools, Modscape has presented a prefabricated building.

The building maintains a comfortable temperature year-round.

Modscape designed the prefab structure for Keilor Primary School.

This particular structure houses four classrooms, a library, an art room and additional amenities for students and staff.

The library offers plenty of space for avid-readers.

An art room proudly displays students' work on the walls.

Modscape wanted to ensure the structure offered a comfortable learning environment for students.

The art room welcomes the children to be creative.

A look at the student art.

The structure was fabricated in Brooklyn in just 10 weeks.

Then, the building came together onsite in one day.