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oea OCONNELL EAST ARCHITECTS

oeaOCONNELL EAST ARCHITECTS

Victoria Hall, Wolverhamptonand

Off-Site Modular Construction

Jenny Hayes


Victoria Hall, Manchester

Low Rise

Low Budget - £5.5M

Traditional Loadbearing Construction

Low Risk

Relatively High Returns


VHL Wolverhampton - Site


Site - Looking North


Site Surroundings


Existing Site – Analysis and Constraints


Approved Scheme – By Day


Approved Scheme - By Night


Approved Scheme – East Elevation


Approved Scheme – South Elevation


Distant Views


Blocks B & C - Material Treatment

Blue engineering brick at ground and first floor of all blocks

White acrylic render to upper floors of Blocks B, C & D with projecting frame detail linking bedroom windows.

Lounge bay window projections of dark grey metallic metal cladding incorporating colouredaluminium panels

Green metallic composite aluminium cladding

Fully glazed management suite and common rooms to give street presence and internal activity at ground and first floor levels


Block A – Articulation and Materials

Blue engineering brick at ground and first floor

Silver metallic and dark grey metal cladding to tower with horizontal joints.

Replicated lounge bay window projections of dark grey metallic metal cladding incorporating coloured aluminium panels used on Blocks B & C

Cantilevered elements to SE prominent corner

Glazed lift shafts and stair core landings


oeaOCONNELL EAST ARCHITECTS

Conversion to Modular Construction


Fleming Proposals

Early Completion 2009 – 1 year early Reduced floor to floor height from 3075mm to 2800mm Fundamental change in overall super structure and foundation

design Provision of an additional 23 study rooms – primarily to provide

structural continuity but gave benefit to Client of additional revenue

Blocks B & C Relocation/configuration of ground and first floor common room/multi-use spaces and refuse stores

Incorporation of 1m deep transfer structures at 1st and 2nd floor levels

Investigate alternative cladding materials for Block A Block A – reconfigured floor plate due to the south-eastern

cantilever structures and reduced core structure


Fleming Proposals – Ground Level


Fleming Proposals – Podium Level


Block A – Amendments to Elevational Treatment


Amended Scheme – South Elevation


Amended Scheme – East Elevation


Site Progress – Block C


Site Progress – Block A


Internal Finishes – Show Flat


Completion August 2009


Off-Site Construction - Advantages

Off-site construction allows the build process to run concurrently can equate to as much as 60% reduction in programme

Off-site construction offers improved building quality due to the controlled construction environment i.e. factory finish and turn-key solution

Cost certainty for Client

Reduced waste (off cuts, packaging etc) – new legislation in the UK forces construction clients, designers and contractors to adopt a more sustainable approach to waste.

Off-site construction facilities are enclosed and secure protecting against weather damage and delays as well as theft.

Permanent, long term employment for skilled labour both within the factory and engineers on site.

Improved Fire/Acoustic performance (effectively two walls between all rooms with a cavity)

Improved Thermal Efficiency

Safety

- Reduced number of workers/man hours on site

- Workers have a reduced number of tasks / hazards

- System building allows detailed analysis of risks at each stage

Less noise, dust and general disturbance

Fewer commercial vehicle movements


Off-Site Construction - Disadvantages

Economically efficient for repetitive floor plates only

Most off-site modular systems are limited to low-rise due to structural stability of modules

Modules are limited in size by transport legislation and width of delivery vehicles

Preferred sizes (but larger sizes /heights are common)

- Width 4.0m outer face of floor steel

- Length 10.6m outer face of floor steel

- Height 2.8m floor to floor

Design freeze required early in the project. VMS System is 18 weeks prior to scheduled delivery on site.

Size of crane required to lift modules may not be cost effective with smaller quantities

Transportation can be costly if site is remote, significant distance from factory and if loads are wide

No flexibility or option for future adaptation


Off-Site Construction: Limitations

Block A To comply with the approved

scheme cantilever elements were retained to the SE elevation.

The internal room configuration was adjusted to provide some structural continuity together through the modules.

Barratt Mahony designed an additional structural H-frame to provide support to the underside of cantilevers.

Introduction of non-standard floor plates within modular construction can be costly.


Points to consider:

Are traditional and modular construction methods really that different?

Did working with an off-site supply chain help or constrain design and flair on the project?

What are the critical success factors for architecture and designer working with offsite?

Would we recommend off-site?

Limitations of off-site construction?

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