Now that our Spruce Building has celebrated its second birthday, I can finally take the opportunity to write to you to thank you for providing us with an excellent building that has proven itself completely fit for purpose and has withstood everything that our administrative and teaching staff have seen fit to throw at it. The building has been occupied on one side by teachers and on the other by a variety of administrative personnel. The difference in use is remarkable, with one side being shockingly untidy and the other being meticulously organised. I shan’t mention which is which, but the building in general has accommodated both types admirably. As a working environment it has proven to be very comfortable, with the heat pump units allowing us to maintain an optimum temperature throughout the changing seasons (if that description still applies in the UK any more?). As this is a very subjective issue, I think we’ve done very well indeed. The supplied plant and equipment (lift, climate control, kitchen facilities etc.) has been reliable and robust, with minimal need for reactive maintenance. This is really appreciated as we haven’t been so lucky in other areas of the College. We were very happy with the installation of this building in summer 2010, as it went in with minimum fuss and bother, and the quality of the construction was evident by the ease with which it dropped onto the existing base. The site management was excellent and it was a pleasure to work consistently with the same people from start to finish. I even recall your good self in hard hat and wellies! My only concern was how well it would operate once we got into it, but they soon dispelled once we moved in. So thanks again for a great building, manufactured and delivered on time, on budget, and of very high quality. I would have no hesitation in recommending Module AR to anybody looking to get a great value for money, and good quality modular building installed, not only for education but as a great general working environment.

Tristan Shanahan, Director of Estates

We write with reference to the recently completed project at the above Academy School within the Plaistow and Sundridge Ward of the London Borough of Bromley. The School in 2014, following sanction by the Secretary of State, agreed to expand their existing accommodation to provide an additional 1 Form of Entry, from 2 to 3 classes per year group. The Local Authority in joint collaboration with the School and design team comprising Keegans Ltd and cost consultants Mott MacDonald undertook a competitive tendering exercise following comprehensive design and consultation work including planning consent obtained in late 2014. Early February 2015, following Executive Member Approval, the Authority appointed the successful tendered Module-AR Ltd to progress the provision of a detached modular building to include the 12 No. new classrooms, toilet accommodation and group rooms in line with the designs and planning consents already obtained. Under a JCT 2011 Design and Build Contract Module-AR Ltd appointed their own in-house designers, contracts manager and construction delivery team, with the module units being manufactured in their own facility near Hull, East Yorkshire. The project was to be delivered in time for the start of the new academic year in 2015 with demolition of 3 mobile blocks and 1 steel framed 2 storey block. The removal of hazardous asbestos from the 2 storey block as well as providing 8 No. temporary classrooms for the decanted children for a term was included within the package of works. The logistics involved in coordinating this work via a restricted access with listed brick piers either side was to be a challenge, and an occupied site during School term time presented additional hazards that any experiences contractor would find problematic. I am pleased to write however, that the School took possession of a fully functional new build at the start of the new term on Tuesday 1st September 2015. The on-site communication with the School was exemplary and the ‘behind-the-scenes’ management of materials, plant, goods and operatives was particularly well done with very little disruption to the School throughout the full 30 week contract. The School have ended up with a fantastic new facility which offers a bright, open and spacious accommodations, aesthetically sitting comfortably against the historic mansion house and recently installed reception class block provided in 2012. Module-AR Ltd as a main contractor provided a no-fuss approach to this build, providing regular updates to the School and Authority Client Team. They dealt with issues promptly and have successfully delivered the contract on time and within budget. A good news story all round and we sincerely thank everyone who took part in the process.

Simon Goodburn, Project Manager at the London Borough of Bromley