Building Awards 2020: Offsite Project of the Year

Runners-up

Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult expansion

Entered by Merit

Using its expert design, fabrication and installation teams, Merit worked with the client to maximise offsite construction of six clean-room modules and develop privileged access management (PAM) technology to suit this high-tech, advanced therapies research environment. Merit delivered the project in just over nine months, less than half the time it had taken another contractor to deliver the previous phase using traditional construction methods.

Green Park Village Primary School

Entered by Reds10

Reds10 built 80% of this Reading school offsite, delivering it 15% faster than if using traditional methods. Key components for the school – a two-storey, steel framed volumetric building – were made in Reds10’s factory for quality control purposes and to reduce time on site. These included a concrete floor, the plant room, a kitchen, toilets and external glazing. The project, developed by the Berkeley Group, shows how high-quality architecture can be incorporated into modular schemes.

Hackwood Primary Academy

Entered by Lungfish Architects

Offsite construction allowed for this school, Derby’s first such facility to be fully constructed using modular methods, to open and be fully operational within nine months of breaking ground, with just 37 weeks spent on site. This is nine months faster than for other projects of a similar size, scope and specification. The 42 modules were craned into position in just seven days, transforming the build from foundation level to a building quickly and efficiently.

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust energy centre

Entered by NG Bailey

NG Bailey ensured emergency medical care continued while installing a new £14m energy centre, part of the trust’s ongoing sustainability and transformation plan to provide capacity for future development on site. Offsite methods were central to ensuring safety and completing the project on time and to budget. Solutions included prefabricated plant skids and heavy-duty services modules, incorporating plant, pipe, fittings, and control equipment. Close collaboration ensured the safety of patients, staff, visitors and the general public was prioritised.

Scale Space

Entered by Western Building Systems

Set on Imperial College London’s White City campus, the 200,000ft² Scale Space is the first community-created scheme in the UK designed to help innovative businesses grow. Meticulous planning and modular manufacturing saved millions on the construction budget, with repetition of prefabricated units providing economies of scale. Built to BREEAM Excellent standard, it was delivered 30% quicker than if using traditional methods.

Sir Frederick Gibberd College

Entered by Caledonian Modular

As lead designer and principal contractor, Caledonian delivered this project from feasibility through design and planning. Its strategy was to maximise the extent of on-site groundworks prior to the 198 modules arriving on site. Each was delivered 90% complete, including flooring, fit-out and cladding. The school was delivered in 12 weeks during lockdown and looks indistinguishable from a conventional build.

Union Wharf

Entered by HTA Design / Assael Architecture

On this 249-home build-to-rent scheme in Greenwich, south-east London, the adoption of volumetric offsite construction meant that most of the project was procured in advance and finished in the factory ahead of on-site works. The high level of co-ordination during the early design stages, plus opportunities for prototyping, testing and benchmarking that offsite manufacture presented, instilled a high level of confidence in the product.