ISU: temporary site based on circular construction

In the current construction boom, there is a need for modular construction that can be realized in a sustainable way - either temporarily or permanently. This summer, provider Adapteo Group (formerly Dutch Cabin Group) delivered the International School Utrecht, a temporary location in the Papendorp business park for 1,200 students. Realized within a year: all-electric, circular construction, turnkey delivery.

Tender manager Angelo de Vries and project manager Rob van Tholen have extensive experience in realizing such projects. "Modular construction is equivalent to permanent construction in terms of lifespan, with high specifications in this project," says De Vries. "Here we are realizing a school building for 1,200 students on an 8,000-square-foot floor area, with units scaled up based on soundproofing requirements and all-electric air-conditioned with mechanical ventilation and heat pumps. The site is completely finished to the level of playground equipment and grass mounds."

Two-story building

Temporary construction, with a 'permanent-like' objective: the International School Utrecht is moving into this location in cooperation with the municipality of Utrecht while waiting for a permanent location on the Utrecht Science Park. In the meantime, the old location in Utrecht will be given a new purpose. A two-story building was chosen on the basis of, among other things, the (spatial) Program of Requirements and the urban situation with the corresponding starting points. The starting point was an efficient construction of a central corridor with living spaces on both sides to create a favorable gross-net ratio.

An analysis of the square meters needed in relation to this layout learned that a single-story, fifteen-meter-deep building would span as much as 700 meters in length. "The plot in Papendorp is optimally utilized in this way," says De Vries. The prefabricated units produced at Adapteo Group, the base of the shell, were assembled in the period February-March 2023, in an eight-shape around an atrium with a void. "We delivered at the end of July; on August 23 this school opened, ready and waiting," Van Tholen says. "The facades are particularized by color areas in different shades. The exterior facade has 5 shades of green, the interior courtyards have 5 shades of blue and 5 shades of red, respectively. Because of the color addition, the building loses its original monotony and comes across as more friendly and less burdensome because of the fragmentation."

Take-back units

After dismantling this site, which will operate for several years, the units can be reused for other projects. This method of development makes such a solution feasible, continues De Vries. "We work with a regular architect and only one installation party. It clicked well with the school administration, and we are used to short development times. The units are actually rented for 37 months. Here is a complete, sustainably realized school building according to Class C of the Fresh Schools principle."

Implementation in a short time had challenges. "The ground conditions were not optimal, a full pile foundation had to be realized to a depth of twelve meters," Van Tholen continued. The hull construction went smoothly. "We started production of the units - consisting of a concrete floor, steel structure and sandwich panels - at the end of 2022. On-site assembly took only a few weeks. From shell construction, we were able to deliver this project in a planable manner, entirely to the client's wishes, including paved site furnishings, panna and basketball cages and a 'Teletubbie hill' with turf."

Circular construction

Modular construction need not be inferior to traditional construction, with a viable business model for all parties. De Vries: "We are a circular builder, if you consider the entire lifespan of our units. Of course, you can vary the usage time for each client; these units can be used for another school building of this level without a problem. In some cases, our units are even constructed as extensions to existing construction. You often see that modular construction stays in use much longer than thought. The client wants to
no more from it."