12th Jun 2006 – Foremans is awarded three contracts at University of East London

Foremans is awarded its largest building contract

Foremans Relocatable Building Systems, the UK’s largest supplier of pre-owned modular buildings, has been awarded three construction contracts for the University of East London.

The contracts total £2m and include a new nursery at UEL’s Docklands campus, a 300-seat lecture theatre and a three-storey building for the School of Education at the Stratford campus.

The University of East London is one of the top 10 modern (post-1992) universities for research and its School of Education is one of the UK’s leading providers of teacher training. The new 93-module campus building will bring a number of facilities together under one roof for the first time. It will incorporate an IT suite, offices, seminar rooms, café, music centre and recording studio, and a range of ‘mock-up’ classrooms for the training of education professionals for domestic science, design and technology.

Due for completion in September, the lecture theatre will be the biggest on the campus and is being built in response to the continued growth in student numbers.

Designed by architects Arts Lettres Techniques, the nursery will feature extensive use of natural play materials, will have an attractive landscaped garden area and will be built to the latest specification for acoustics.

Each of the three new buildings will be constructed from pre-owned steel-framed modules, which will be refurbished and fitted out off-site, and craned into position on pre-prepared foundations in just a few days.

The recycling of modular buildings is one of the most environmentally friendly methods of construction, but with no compromise on quality. Foremans’ approach will give the University all the advantages of modular building – faster programme times, improved quality and less disruption to staff and students during construction – with the additional benefit of greater value for money because the building is made from refurbished pre-owned modules.

Commenting on the projects, Peter Thompson, Assistant Head of Capital Projects at the University of East London, said, "Foremans were successful in winning these contracts following a process of competitive tendering. They offered us the best value for each project, met our budget requirements and would guarantee completion on time. We feel each facility will look as good as a brand new building."

"Speed of construction was also a key factor because we need each scheme to be up and running in time for the start of the new school term. We have been impressed with Foremans’ capabilities so far, the professionalism of their team and the fact that there are significant environmental benefits to be gained from the recycling of buildings."

Research has shown that the use of pre-owned modular buildings minimises materials wastage and energy consumption, and generates less than 10 per cent of the carbon dioxide compared to a newly manufactured building of equivalent size.

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