Addition of storey containing two classrooms
Non-profit education provider Katholiek Onderwijs Kessel-Lo faced two problems: an acute lack of space and outdated buildings. Two sites were affected, one in the village of Vlierbeek and the other in Boven-Lo. While a solution was urgently needed, any disruption to teaching during the school year was out of the question. Modular construction allowed the work to be completed during the summer holidays instead. Expectations were high but Genk-based Machiels Building Solutions did not disappoint.
To address the lack of space in the Boven-Lo school, it was decided to add an extra storey to the existing building. A modular building system has the advantage of being relatively lightweight. It therefore places a relatively small load on the existing foundations, without jeopardising the building’s stability. In addition, the weight of the extra floor is spread evenly over the entire surface.
The school buildings (in Vlierbeek and Boven-Lo) covered an area of some 700 m², but the project had to be completed in just 10 weeks to be ready in time for the start of the new school year (2014‑2015). Modular construction was therefore the obvious choice, especially as quality and sustainability were key concerns for the client. Machiels Building Solutions was chosen from a large number of suppliers because it met all the client’s specifications. The project was delivered on a design-build basis. Among many other benefits, prefabricated timber components boast excellent acoustic performance.
