What's New

The Reading School District welcomes 2 new Magnet Schools

Two new 24,000 square foot Magnet Schools were built, delivered, installed and ready to occupy for school opening in September 2006 – only 5 months after a contract award was made to NRB.

NRB (USA) Inc. recently completed two permanent Magnet Schools for the Reading School District in Reading, PA. Working closely with the Architect, Sylvia Deye of Dimensional Architecture (Herb, her website is www.da-Architecture.net.) NRB executed the two projects, the Thomas Ford Elementary and the Glenside Elementary Schools simultaneously with speed and build-quality precision.

When asked why the owner and architect looked to permanent modular construction as a viable solution to their space needs, Ms. Deye said,

“The Reading School District was in need of emergency space – quick space – inexpensive space, and the original thought was to place some temporary classrooms. However, two major factors arose which persuaded the school district to commit to permanent construction. First, parents and the community had a great concern about the quality of temporary “trailer” space and the exterior appearances of the classrooms. Second, the school district with minimal funding, could not afford not to be reimbursed from the state (the state will only reimburse for permanent construction, not temporary). So since time was still of great importance, the only major concern left was the appearance. Through presentations of the proposed design, showing what the permanent modular school could look like, and with a look at examples of other great modular projects, everyone was soon very much in favour of permanent modular construction!”

Permanent modular construction for the purpose of the state’s model for funding, is defined as being constructed using “steel and concrete”. By adopting this design technology, the school district not only managed to qualify for reimbursement, but they managed to cut the construction schedule that would have been necessary using conventional means, by more than 50%.

NRB was responsible for all structural, mechanical and electrical design elements for the two schools. The multi-purpose rooms with 14’ high clear ceilings were created using 5 structural steel floor pans in an identical thickness to the modular floor assemblies for continuity, but with the concrete placed in one monolithic pour at site. Trusses were installed across the rooms on panelized knee-walls that were set above the modules below. Rows of glazing were added to bring more natural light into the room and acoustical roof deck and baffles control sound and reverberation.

With NRB’s unique “Build Together” process, each school was constructed at the plant in two complete wings that were located either side of the central multi-purpose room, allowing all systems to be run through the building for fit, finish and testing. This construction process ensures precise alignment between all modules at the plant, and with each section having built-in lifting eyes, crane setting and placing on foundations is fast and simple – in fact it was because of the precise engineering and construction that this project attained a record schedule of setting 30 modules on the site in just one 9 hour day! Less time at site means less disruption and disturbance, better safety and security – and according to the Architect, Ms. Deye “The surrounding community is impacted over a shorter period of time, and the building becomes available in half the time. With this amount of speed, co-ordination among all trades is of the utmost importance – and NRB is a master with their organization..”

The two Schools were designed and built with everything in mind from architectural excellence, with it’s barrel vault entry ways, stucco exteriors and colorful interiors, to building performance with the rugged steel post and beam construction, concrete floors and energy efficient HVAC and lighting systems.

For the parents and the surrounding community, the buildings had eye-appeal; for the School District and the Architect, these permanent steel and concrete modular buildings permitted the necessary reimbursement and the expedited construction schedule had the school open for the beginning of their 2006 year, making this first project for Reading School District, a tremendous success for all.

Read the project summary. Click here.