Global Academy, London: how offsite modular construction is reshaping education

Abstract

The Global Academy in west London, UK, was the country’s first university technical college to be built using offsite modular construction techniques. Advanced offsite modular technology integrated with traditional site-based building solutions enabled the project to meet a challenging programme on a constrained plot. The college was built in just 12 months, providing a new state-of-the-art educational facility for 800 14–19-year-old broadcast and digital media students. It has a structural design life of 60 years and high levels of acoustic performance and energy efficiency. This paper reviews the methods used to design, engineer and build the college and the key role played by offsite modular construction.