Austin, Texas, is currently the fastest-growing urban city, considering the impact COVID has had recently. According to the latest U.S. Census report, there has been a steep incline in population growth within the past twenty years, a 21% increase within the last decade alone. The city has had at least a 4% birthrate near the national average. This kind of information is necessary for the Austin Independent School District in planning the city’s projected educational needs. Although COVID concerns have depressed AISD’s public school enrollments, charter and private schools have seen an uptick.
With the pandemic demanding safer space solutions, overcrowded classrooms become problematic. Coupled with steady annual growth in student population, the issue becomes exacerbated. Such was the case for this Private Catholic School.
THE PROBLEM
Seven Catholic parishes are growing quickly that feed into and support this Catholic School. With a desire to provide a school that “works with parents to nurture the whole child’s growth — spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically,” this Catholic School was established in 2000 to meet the community’s needs.
“…we believe in educating the whole child: heart, mind, body, and soul.” – Principal of the Catholic School.
Starting with 158 students and a staff of 18, the school consisted of eight portable buildings temporarily housed at one of the local parishes. The following year, the campus moved to a 20-acre plot within the Texas Hill Country. However, it wasn’t until recently, with their student body reaching over 650 from Pre-K to eighth grade, that Phase II of their mission came to fruition. In desperate need of additional space, the school investigated modular solutions, having previous experience with portable buildings in their early years.
THE SOLUTION
There can be a lot of trepidation around prefabricated buildings if you are new to the concept. However, portable buildings are a common solution for overcrowded educational facilities. Already familiar with the benefits this type of modern construction can offer, by way of their original eight buildings, the school turned to Aries Building Systems to help bring in Phase II of their mission.
As with most schools, budget-friendly is a necessity. There are cost savings to modular buildings in lieu of brick and mortar. Plus, the school needed specific design aspects to be taken care of so the new buildings would seamlessly blend with the old brick and mortar buildings already on the campus. Aries was able to provide this service for even more cost savings. Typically, there is also a time-saving in modular construction versus traditional construction. However, the pandemic handicapped all construction, and the industry is still recovering as are many businesses. The pandemic was just one more challenge to overcome.
Nevertheless, Aries Buildings delivered 31 modules, 100% modular, and 100% completed before leaving the factory. Over 11,000 square feet of one-story buildings were added to the existing campus. The buildings were being built at a facility at the same time that work was underway to prepare the property. Fortunately, jurisdictional authorities did not require additional or special documentation to install the units.
Design Features of Aries Modular Buildings for School Campus
Aries’ team designed the new custom modular classrooms to match the brick-and-mortar buildings that were previously built when the school was founded. The exterior of the buildings are brick and stucco, with metal roofs, and have storefront quality windows and doors.Parents and students see these custom modular classroom as the first buildings when they enter the campus. The interior consists of kinetic carpet, tape and textured walls, elevated ceilings, and accent walls throughout the custom modular classrooms. With customizable floor plans, a wide array of options was available to meet the customer’s needs.
CHALLENGES
The modular buildings were installed in the drainage area of the campus, which required the Aries’ team to develop multiple drainage systems to divert water safely away from the building footprints. The mechanical system was designed and installed under the City of Austin’s environmental requirements to keep the operation costs low, and at the same time be eco-friendly. Green concrete alternatives including Tru-Grid were utilized to minimalize the impervious coverage of the construction to avoid increasing the retention ponds on a tight campus footprint. The Aries’ team worked with the staff at the school to keep the costs in check during the installation amid a pandemic.
Even with these challenges, the Aries’ team was able to design, build, and install modular buildings that match the existing campus, providing different visual elevations that the current facilities did not provide, solved environmental challenges, with a pleasing aesthetic inside and out, and all in time to start the new school year in 2021.
It is projected that Austin, Texas will continue its trajectory of growth. This beloved Catholic School is now prepared for that growth and Aries Building Systems is ready too!
“I invite you to explore our website and learn more about our faith-filled community and I hope to see you on our beautiful campus soon!” – Erin Vu, principal of The Catholic School
About Aries
Aries provides prefabricated office buildings, construction trailers, portable school classrooms, mobile hospitals, workforce housing, storage containers, and disaster recovery relief. We would be happy to help you acquire a modular building for any purpose you may have! Aries offer full turnkey solutions with exceptional customer service and robust financing options. We pride ourselves on combining product quality, design expertise, technical and financial innovation, and strategy. This has already established us as a first choice to customers.
Become a customer today!
Visit Aries: www.ariesbuildings.com, or call (U.S.) 1-888-598-6689. You can also contact us via our website, or request a quote here.