Why schools should embrace modular tensioned buildings.

15th December 2022

Oscar Chester-Roberts

With the ongoing rise in construction costs forcing schools to revise or reconsider investment in new sports facilities, high performance tensile structures could keep projects on track.

Necessity is the mother of invention as the saying goes. And with rising energy costs, inflation and increases in the price of construction materials continuing to affect capital projects, schools may find their plans for new sports facilities have now become unaffordable. Instead of scaling back on schemes or putting them on the back burner, now is the ideal time to look to alternative solutions.

Modern tensioned membrane buildings from Paragon Structures can meet all of your sports requirements at a fraction of the cost of a traditional bricks and mortar building, especially given the considerable increases in the cost of cement and concrete this year.

Using patented technology, and developed following years of extensive research and development, tensile membrane structures are a quick, robust and cost-effective alternative to traditionally built sports facilities. Here are some of the reasons why:

• Lower costs – Paragon’s insulated sports facilities can be delivered with up to 40 per cent cheaper capital costs than standard buildings. Their outstanding thermal performance means they have less heating demands than a typical sports facility, resulting in lower operating costs. They also require minimal maintenance for further savings.
• Quick to build – A major advantage of modular buildings is speed and ease of construction compared to traditional builds – it takes just 44 days to build 1,000m2, delivering dramatic cost savings and minimising disruption.
• Reach your net zero targets – more and more schools are committing to cutting their carbon emissions to zero by 2030. With a BREEAM rating of Excellent, Paragon’s buildings benefit from outstanding environmental performance. The structures are tensioned both inside and out to create a virtually airtight building. Indeed, Paragon’s airtightness performance approaches Passivhaus levels – the gold standard of energy efficient design – helping schools to save energy and cut carbon emissions. The structures meet June 2022 building regulations regarding thermal efficiency and U-values. High specification fibreglass insulation in the walls and roof of the building ensure better climate control, while absorbing sound and reverberation for great acoustics – a rarity in school sports buildings. Plus, the roofs of the buildings are the ideal pitch for solar panels and, by installing Paragon’s specialist solar panel system, schools can generate electricity and save more on their energy bills.
• Complete design flexibility – sports facilities from Paragon Structures are bespoke to ensure they meet the sports needs of every school. Meeting Sport England standards, their clear-span interiors, generous roof heights and translucent daylight panels also make them the ideal playing environment for both training and competitions.

Modern, fit for purpose sports facilities are not only critical for school pupils and staff, they can also be hired out to local sports clubs and community groups to generate additional revenue for your school. If you think you can’t afford a high performance sports building, think again and explore the benefits of a modern tensioned membrane building from Paragon Structures