November 7, 2008—Portakabin , UK modular building supplier, has provided Derby City Council with three new Children’s Centres, as part of phase two of the British Government’s Sure Start Children’s Centre initiative. The centers provide multi-agency services for families, incorporating everything from childcare and health services to employment support and training.
Having used traditional buildings to complete phase one of the project, the Council opted for the reassurance of a timely delivery of a modular building solution for phase two, citing minimal disruption to the operational schools on-site as another key reason for the switch to modular.
Portakabin offers an array of design features, architectural structures, and aesthetic finishes, which enable its clients to create modular buildings that meet their precise requirements, whether to blend in or contrast with existing structures. Derby City Council chose to finish the buildings with a brick skin or rendered blockwork to blend in with the school buildings. Two had “stylish” bull-nose fascias and one had a traditional-looking pitched roof.
The Council opted for a full turn-key package from Portakabin, including everything from groundworks through to service connections and fitting out the building. The individual modules were craned into place in a matter of days. The modular buildings are delivered with a five-year product warranty and 20-year structural warranty.
Portakabin received 100 percent scores on customer satisfaction surveys for each of the three projects; the Council was reportedly pleased with the quality of the facilities and Portakabin’s attention to detail, including such finishing touches as the finger guards on the doors to protect children’s fingers.
