Integrating Modular Buildings Within Historic School Settings

Many independent schools across the UK have facilities dating back centuries, showcasing their commitments to tradition and educational excellence. There are significant challenges when it comes to incorporating modern expansions in these environments. Whether refurbishing or expanding an existing building or constructing a new one on the site, it’s crucial to avoid disrupting the historical integrity of the original structures.

By carefully considering the architectural style of existing buildings, our team creates modular solutions that feel like a natural extension of each school’s heritage, maintaining the feel of the space while providing the advanced facilities that today’s students require.

Our dining and kitchen area for Barfield Prep School

The challenge of expanding traditional facilities

Much like the more modern buildings affected by the RAAC crisis, many historic schools across the UK require refurbishment or expansion to remain in operation. To preserve these unique locations, all work must complement and enhance their existing architecture, which begins with a conscientious design process. 

When this level of care isn’t taken, new buildings can stand out, detracting from the period look of the school as a whole, whether that’s Edwardian, Victorian, or older. While it’s vital to maintain aesthetic cohesion, all new buildings must take into account modern standards around accessibility, traffic flow, and insulation.

Balancing the old with the new

When looking to create a new building within a historic location, particularly in independent schools where heritage plays a vital role, the goal should be to design facilities that are firmly rooted in the present, while drawing inspiration from the past. This approach respects the heritage of the original building while ensuring that the new areas meet today’s requirements for functionality, safety, and sustainability.

At TG Escapes, our team approaches each project with a commitment to preserving the unique character of the sites, ensuring that new additions complement rather than clash with existing structures.

We specialise in creating timber buildings which blend seamlessly with traditional environments. Despite the rich tradition of timber, these buildings are far from old-fashioned. We design around net-zero energy efficiency, solar power integration, and biophilic design principles, which help to connect pupils and staff with nature. By marrying the aesthetic qualities of the past with the sustainability and functionality of the present, we work to honour the history of a site while meeting the demands of modern education.

Our stunning sports pavilion for Holy Cross school

Incorporating our modular buildings into traditional schools

Over the past 21 years, our team has completed hundreds of projects across UK schools, with a particular focus on the independent sector. We’ve selected some of the projects that best highlight how modular timber solutions beautifully complement traditional architecture. 

Barfield Prep School

We recently worked with Barfield Prep School, who required a dedicated dining area and kitchen to deal with a headcount that had doubled over the last 5 years. Our team created a structure that seamlessly integrated with the school's existing facilities. Completed in just four months, our building featured full-height windows to flood the dining area with natural light, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape including their grass tennis courts. Kevin Sandhu, COO of the Prep Schools Trust said “The final building is a fantastic addition to the estate and we are all really pleased with the outcome.”

Holy Cross Preparatory School

We were approached by Holy Cross Preparatory School to create a sports pavilion that integrated with their estate, which includes buildings dating back to the 13th century. This project revitalised nearly three acres of previously underutilised space, transforming it into a key area for the school's sports activities. The pavilion's design blended superbly with the school's existing facilities while providing a modern, functional space that supported their athletic programmes.

Swalcliffe Park School

Our team worked with Swalcliffe Park School, a day and residential school for boys with autism, to create a dedicated performing arts studio. This project reclaimed an underutilised area of the school's extensive grounds, transforming it into a space where students could explore and develop their talents in music, dance, and drama. Designed with biophilic principles, the studio immerses students in their natural surroundings, featuring large windows that flood the space with natural light. The building blends seamlessly with the environment, complementing the nearby Victorian manor house. Since its completion, the studio has become a vital part of the school, significantly enhancing the students’ educational experience and fostering their creativity.

Integrating with modern schools

As each of our buildings is designed from the ground up, we're also able to make a variety of visual adjustments to better fit within modern school settings. For an example of how we can tailor our buildings to fit a contemporary look, our classroom block at Samuel Ryder Academy needed to meet both the energy performance and aesthetic needs of the school. Our team customised the exterior finish with a render to blend perfectly with the school’s buildings at the client's request while achieving an A+ energy rating. This ensured a building that fitted seamlessly into the existing site while offering state-of-the-art energy solutions including solar power and advanced ventilation.

Our design priorities

Every building our team creates is bespoke, designed to meet the unique needs of each school while integrating with its existing environment. Here are some of the crucial factors we consider in each project:

• Compatibility with Existing Structures: The timber panelling we use on our standard buildings complements a wide range of architectural styles. However, we also offer numerous alternative finishes including brick-slip, render and neo-life cladding. Whether a school features historic architecture, popular 20th-century masonry designs, or a more modern glass look, we’ll ensure that our additions enhance, rather than detract from, the overall aesthetic. 
• Bespoke Designs: Every school has its own specific needs. That’s why we offer fully customisable designs, allowing us to create spaces that are tailored to each school, taking into account existing structures, maximising sunlight, and exterior access.
• Net-Zero: Our commitment to sustainability is at the core of every project. We design our modular buildings to be net-zero in operation as standard, achieved through renewable materials, energy-saving measures and offsite manufacture.
• Biophilic Design Principles: We prioritise connecting students with nature by incorporating biophilic design elements. This includes maximising natural light, integrating views of the outdoors, and using natural materials, all of which contribute to improved well-being and learning outcomes.
• Minimising Disruption: We know how important it is to maintain normal school operations during construction. Our offsite construction process minimises on-site disruption, ensuring that your students and staff can continue their daily activities with minimal interference.
• Longevity and Durability: Our buildings are designed for 50 years of regular use, with low maintenance requirements that ensure they remain attractive and functional over the long term.

Why choose modular?

From standalone classrooms to larger blocks, modular construction offers numerous benefits for schools. The offsite construction process significantly reduces build times, allowing projects to be completed faster with minimal disruption to school operations. Cost efficiency is another key advantage, as modular buildings reliably come in at a lower price point than traditional construction, with fewer unexpected expenses. Performance-wise, modular buildings are designed to high standards, ensuring durability, energy efficiency, and low maintenance. When opting for a panelised approach, as our team uses, there is a tremendous level of customisation available during the design process, allowing for carefully tailored layouts.

Working with schools across the UK

Every building project with TG Escapes begins with a free, no-obligation design consultation. We’ll work closely with you to create a bespoke solution tailored to your needs, including a comprehensive price for all work. Speak to a member of our team to learn more.