Top of the class for Terrapin

'Flat pack' Unitrex system from Terrapin's modular building range specified for school uses proven materials and factory fabrication to deliver a fast and quality assured solution.

A permanent modular building, designed and built by Terrapin for the Cippenham Nursery School and Children's Centre in Slough, has won top marks from the staff, parents and children who are now using the new facility.

The L-shaped, single-storey structure provides a modern, energy efficient replacement for the old school building, with 440m of partitioned floor space to accommodate the nursery and a creche, plus a kitchen, offices, medical room, toilets and baby changing facilities.

The 'flat pack' Unitrex system from Terrapin's modular building range specified for the Cippenham project uses proven materials and factory fabrication to deliver a fast and quality assured solution.

Buildings are delivered as pre-engineered panelised units for fast-track assembly and internal finishing on site.

By utilising Terrapin's offsite construction technology, rather than opting for a traditional build, the project was completed in less time - just 16 weeks on site including ground works - and with reduced disruption on site, which was a major benefit, particularly during term time.

Jean Pocock, Headteacher of Cippenham Nursery School, is delighted with the new building, and with Terrapin's professional service from start to finish.

She says: "We never imagined that a modular building could be as luxurious as this and so well equipped".

"The whole project ran really smoothly, thanks to the Terrapin team, who ensured it was completed on time and kept us up to date with every detail along the way." To meet the school's and planning requirements of a 15 degree pitched roof, Terrapin employed its standard flat roof system and installed a bespoke roof truss system covered with concrete tiles.

A combination of stained cedar boarding and stone aggregate cladding panels ensures a durable and weatherproof external finish.

Doors and windows are fabricated from a low maintenance, powder coated aluminium profile.

Inside the new building, the insulated partitioning has a 45dB acoustic rating to minimise sound disturbance between rooms, meeting the minimum standard set by BB93 for schools.

Wall surfaces are finished in an easy-to-clean vinyl emulsion.

As part of the building's energy saving specification, an innovative 'light pipe' system provides a highly efficient source of natural light to the corridor.

The system consists of silver plated, mirror finish aluminium tubes which harvest light from perspex domes on the roof and 'pipe' it into window-less areas.

At the time of printing, Terrapin is the only offsite manufacturer to be accredited under Buildoffsite's new supplier registration scheme operated by Lloyd's Register.

The scheme specifies performance standards for all aspects of the offsite process and ensures best practice, offering clients confidence in the assured levels of competence, methodology and safe working of the accredited supplier.

Terrapin is a privately owned company which has been expanding and promoting the potential of modern methods of offsite construction since the 1940s.

It grew with the development of modular classroom buildings throughout the baby boom and is now a leader in the design and production of factory assembled building frames, panels and volumetric modules for projects such as hotels, prisons, hospitals, schools, offices and apartments.

Back to top