Actavo Modular, the modular buildings division of Actavo Group, has been awarded the contract for the manufacturing of seven steel-framed modular education buildings in Gorey, Co Wexford, and has recently completed a two-storey steel framed modular building at Castleknock Community College under the Department of Education & Skills Prefabricated Modular Volumetric Accommodation Framework. 

Actavo Modular’s first school project on the new framework, on behalf of Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board, is located at Castleknock Community College and was successfully handed over and commissioned in October.

L-R: Barry O’Donnell, CFO, Actavo Group, John Cronin, principal of Castleknock Community College, Michael Regan, managing director, Actavo Modular

Two-storey steel framed modular building

Actavo Modular designed, manufactured and installed a 26-module, two-storey steel framed modular building that comprises of two science rooms and four classrooms including ancillary areas and circulation. As part of the project, civils works and connections to services were also carried out.

John Cronin, principal, Castleknock Community College, said: “Actavo was commissioned in the spring of 2021 to provide additional accommodation for Castleknock Community College.  In October of 2021, the team delivered on time, a very high-quality modular unit that has been very well received by staff and students at the College.

The facilities provided by Actavo represent a new age of modular accommodation for schools as the comforts and features of the accommodation are similar to a permanent structure.

One of the many challenges for any building company working in a restricted space with 1,230 students and 125 staff is to ensure that they adhere to all health and safety standards. 

Actavo were exceptional in this area and were very respectful and understanding of the demands of large Community College. The new build has been seamlessly integrated into the schools existing structures.”

Barry O’Donnell, chief finance officer, Actavo Group, said: “Actavo Modular aims to provide sustainable builds to the education sector that will enable schools to meet demands for the provision of state-of-the-art educational facilities, within specific timescales.

"The design, build quality and aesthetics of these new generation Modular buildings results in fit-for-purpose buildings which will serve their local communities for decades.

"It is a privilege to visit the now operational new school building at Castleknock Community College and see the quality finish of the team’s project for DDLETB. We are very proud to be part of the Department of Education and Skills PVMA Framework and look forward to delivering our largest school project to date, in Gorey, over the coming months.”

Actavo Modular is working with the new Educate Together Secondary School in Gorey, Co Wexford, to manufacture seven steel-framed modular buildings. Due to local demand for enrolment, the project must be manufactured and delivered within a specific timeframe. 

Off-site fabrication of the buildings in Actavo Modular’s state of the art 60,000 sq ft Manufacturing Facility in Kill, Co. Kildare, is running concurrently with the ground works on site to ensure the programme of works is achieved. This is one of the significant advantages of modular construction over other forms of construction.

Upon completion, the buildings will contain general classrooms plus a mixture of practical teaching units, providing over 2,850 m² of accommodation on a brownfield site.

As the main design and build contractor for this significant project, Actavo Modular provides a full turnkey service across all construction disciplines including civil, structural, mechanical and electrical across all seven buildings, and all site work and utilities tie-ins located within the public realm. 

The accommodation is broken down into four Type 2 Buildings of 1,800m² each, two Type 3 Buildings of 620m² each, and one Type 8 Building measuring 400m².

Conor Berry, principal, Gorey Educate Together secondary school said: “We are delighted to be working closely with Actavo Modular on the design and build of the new temporary school for Educate Together secondary school.

"I was honoured to be appointed to the role of principal earlier this year to provide this much-needed educational facility to the town of Gorey. We are already up and running in temporary accommodation but greatly looking forward to the fantastic new facilities being constructed by the Actavo Team.”

In accordance with latest building regulations

All of the buildings on the PMVA Framework are required to be new build and in accordance with the latest building regulations. While the buildings are relocatable, the standard and quality of Actavo Modular’s manufacturing means that what were once considered temporary or transportable buildings are now exceeding the quality demanded of a permanent building structure. With BOPAS certification, and NSAI in progress, Actavo Modular’s buildings can achieve a structural design life of 60 years.

Modern modular buildings are proving to be an ideal approach to construction needs within the education sector. Taking a modular approach allows contractors and customers manage and avoid issues generally associated with traditional build approaches, such as regular site access, traffic and noise disruption and lengthy completion timelines. Buildings are completed to the highest building regulations and standards and come with a standard 30-year structural warranty.