Shelter Industries Custom Modular Housing

“Modular construction was the only way to go for our school,” says Skyview Academy school director Orval Hagerman.  “Our rural location combined with the difficulty in getting quality trades to our area made modular construction the ideal choice.”

Located in rural Hawthorne, Nevada, Sky View Academy is a private boarding school that helps poor performers achieve greater success in a wholesome structured environment.   “Thanks to the quick construction schedule of modular, our school was able to open the doors in 6 months,” says Hagerman.  “We would have had to wait more than a year if we went with stick-built.”

“Once we decided to go modular, we searched throughout our region for suppliers,” says Hagerman.  “After getting estimates from a number of suppliers, we were surprised to learn that modular buildings manufactured by Shelter Industries Inc. in Langley, BC, managed by ST Modular in Nevada, was less expensive — even when we added the extra transportation costs!”

Shelter Industries Inc. built the school’s three 3,604 square foot dormitories (holding 48 people per dormitory) and one 3,400 square foot cafeteria (seating 150 people).  The success of the school launch led to the addition of two more 3,876 square foot dormitories, increasing the school’s capacity to 240 students.

“These modular buildings are extremely well built,” says Hagerman. “They are like battleships.  We are very impressed with their work, and especially the modular team.  They were very easy to work with and very responsive.  And Shelter Industries was always readily accessible.”

“Modular is the perfect solution for schools,” says Shelter Industries president Harold Clifford.  “With changing demographics, it simply makes more sense to invest in the flexibility of modular to downsize or grow as needs change.”

“In recent years, there has been a notable shift in thinking about school construction,” says Harold Clifford, President of Shelter Industries Inc.  “Formerly almost all modular construction for schools were temporary portables.  Now, many schools are opting for a more permanent style of modular construction that has the look and feel of site-built construction, yet maintains the flexibility to downsize or upgrade as needs change.”

With changing demographics and the long lasting effects of the baby boom, schools need more flexibility to grow, shift, transport and downsize schools as needs change.  It no longer makes sense to construct a permanent building to last 40 or 50 years, when in 10 years school enrollment has dwindled significantly.

Temporary portables will always be a part of the school system.  In fact, there has been an additional surge in new portable construction in the last few years as the existing stock of portables has dried up.  However, more permanent style modular construction will likely be the norm as more and more school administrators recognize the practicality and long-term financial savings of going modular.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF

WATCH OUR VIDEO ON THE MODULAR SOLUTION