University of Exeter

Customer testimonial

John Vickery, Project Director, University of Exeter

On behalf of the University, I would like to express our thanks to you and the team for managing the delivery of the 20 modules in less than 3 days, the professionalism of the team and their cheerful demeaner is a credit to you.

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The brief

The University of Exeter combines world-class research with excellent student satisfaction, from its campuses in the South West of England, in Exeter and Cornwall.  A member of the prestigious Russell Group, the University has over 25,000 students from 130 countries.  The University ensures wellbeing support provisions are readily available to all students and offers a range of wellbeing and welfare services.

After providing vital wellbeing services for a number of years, additional space was needed to provide confidential meeting spaces, offices and consultation rooms. The site for the new, additional wellbeing facility was located at the top of a steep hill with difficult access, next to in-use student accommodation, which meant the new facility had to be built with minimal disruption whilst navigating complex site safely. The design of the new building would also need to align with the University of Exeter’s sustainability ambitions, requiring a partner that championed sustainable practices.   A traditional building would not have been suitable for the site so, with the access challenges and sustainability in mind, the University appointed Premier Modular to deliver a full turnkey solution for the new wellbeing facility, after a mini competition via the LHC Modular Framework.

The building

A two-storey modular building was designed and created to provide additional space for wellbeing services. Constructed using 20 modules, with a comfortable working environment, the new facility included offices, private support rooms, break-out rooms and general workspaces.

Composite panels and timber cladding were used to ensure that the building was both aesthetically pleasing and would blend seamlessly alongside existing campus facilities. Although it was a standalone structure, connections to key site services, such as the fire alarm system, were installed for a smooth integration with campus safety.

The modules were constructed offsite in our Hull factory, which resulted in using 67% less energy and up to 50% less time spent on site compared with traditional building methods. The modular approach chosen by the University, along with the built-in sustainability features of the Wellbeing Centre, such as triple glazed windows, enhanced U values, roof mounted PV panels resulted in the project achieving a BREAAM rating of “Very Good”.

The site’s constrained nature, steep gradient and poor access for plant and machinery required meticulous delivery planning to get materials to where they were needed.

Our team worked closely with the University to implement a lift plan that would work at the challenging site. The plan involved the use of two cranes: one to deliver modules and materials up the hill and one on the construction site to receive them. We also marked out a designated a lay down area at the bottom of the hill, all while navigating a live site.

The installation was scheduled during the University’s summer break to minimise disruption, with work taking place just after the students’ graduation.

Despite the challenges, the project was completed within the University’s short scheduled timeframe thanks to our team’s careful planning and on-site coordination. With the new wellbeing facility in place, the University of Exeter will be able to continue offering mental health and wellbeing support to its student community for years to come.

To find out more about Premier Modular’s permanent building solutions, speak to our specialist team today.