Off-site manufacture scores top marks in university expansion
To reduce disruption on the busy Walsall Campus of the University of Wolverhampton, a new boiler room was made off site by Armstrong for contractor C. A. Sothers Ltd.
The new boiler room was required as part of a broader expansion project for the university, which has over 23 000 students. It was built in Armstrong’s factory in nearby Halesowen and shrink wrapped for the short journey to the university site, where the contractor completed by cladding and weather proofing.
Steve Cooper of Armstrong, says, ‘Off-site manufacture of plant rooms is becoming increasingly popular in the educational sector. In the past, all construction work was typically crammed into the summer break to avoid disruption to students. This created a situation where educational sites were all demanding the same resources in terms of contractors and materials, at the same time.
‘In contrast, the speed and ease of installing an off-site manufactured plant room makes it possible for work to take place at any time in the academic year. This provides a more sensible and safer way of approaching building works and was the ideal solution for the expansion of the University of Wolverhampton.’