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AT A GLANCE

  • Client
    Client Department of Education and Skills
  • Service/s
    Service/s Modular Building
  • Sector/s
    Sector/s Education / Sport
  • Location
    Location Gorey, Co Wexford
  • Date/duration
    Date/duration 2021 to 2022/18 months
  • Design Team
    Design Team Architect: Healy Partners Architects, Project Management / QS: Rogerson Reddan, Mechanical & Electrical: JV Tierney & Co., Civil & Structural: Barrett Mahony Consulting Engineers, Assigned Certifier: D. Fallon Consulting Group

Gorey in Co. Wexford required a new Educate Together Secondary School site to meet the ever-growing demand for this type of school in Ireland. Actavo Modular manufactured and installed seven steel-framed modular buildings to make up the Educate Together Secondary School, as well as providing a temporary school building for students already enrolled in the school.

Drone photography

Drone photography

Exterior view of new school

Exterior view of new school

Classroom

Classroom

Exterior view

Exterior view

Kitchen facilities

Kitchen facilities

Scope of works

Actavo Modular was contracted to provide a full turnkey service across all service disciplines, including civil, structural, electrical, and mechanical for seven individual buildings on the school campus. The buildings contained general classrooms plus a mixture of practical teaching units, providing over 2,850 m² of accommodation on a brownfield site.

Services delivered

As the main design and build contractor for this significant project, Actavo Modular provided a full turn-key service and all site work and utilities tie-ins located within the public realm.

Key successes

  • Actavo Modular provided a temporary school while the new school was being built. Concurrent civil engineering was ongoing on the larger site.
  • Actavo Modular met each deadline for the phased handover of the new school.
  • With health & safety being a primary focus, there were zero LTIs.
  • Actavo Modular managed all on and off-site operations to the highest standards 

Solutions to challenges

  • Due to local demand for enrolment, the buildings had to be manufactured and delivered within a tight timeframe. Off-site fabrication of the buildings in Actavo Modular’s manufacturing facility ran concurrently with the ground works on site to ensure the programme of works was achieved.
  • Actavo Modular successfully developed a traffic management plan to incorporate a busy construction zone, while maintaining the safety of the children entering and exiting the school, as well as residents.
  • Given that the new school location was a brownfield site, Actavo Modular relied on their expertise to upgrade all civils connections, particularly drainage.
  • Actavo Modular provided a temporary school set up so students who had registered for the upcoming term could start their education in an Educate Together environment from day one.

Benefits to client

  • The modular approach to building the school allowed us and the client to manage and avoid issues generally associated with traditional build approaches, such as regular site access, traffic and noise disruption and lengthy completion timelines.
  • The buildings are completed to the highest building regulations and standards.
  • Using modern methos of construction, Actavo Modular was able to hand over this fully compliant school complex in half the time of traditional building methods.
  • Actavo used a modern insulated exterior panelling system and incorporated even leg window features, which enhanced the aesthetics of the buildings.
  • Actavo Modular incorporated a 10mm cement board enclosure to the bottom of all modules, protecting the buildings from adverse conditions.
  • Actavo Modular buildings come with a firestone EPDM roof system, which is one of the most durable roofing systems available on the market and comes with a 20-year parts and labour warranty.
It has been a remarkable experience working with Ollie and the Actavo team on the construction of Gorey Educate Together Secondary School. From the outset, the project faced numerous challenges, including tight deadlines and the need for high-quality interim accommodation to ensure the smooth continuation of the school's activities. However, the Actavo team displayed exceptional professionalism and ingenuity, overcoming each obstacle with innovative solutions.

One of the standout achievements was the provision of superb temporary facilities. Actavo's commitment to quality was evident in every aspect of these interim accommodations, which provided a seamless transition for students and staff. The temporary structures were not only functional but also maintained a high standard of comfort and safety, ensuring minimal disruption to the educational process.

Based on my experience, I wholeheartedly recommend Ollie and the Actavo team for any similar projects requiring temporary educational facilities or interim accommodations. Their expertise, dedication, and ability to deliver under challenging conditions make them an invaluable partner in any construction endeavor.

Conor Berry

Principal: Gorey ETSS