Studies have shown that the aesthetic design of your school campus has a powerful effect on the productivity of your staff and students. Working and learning within an attractive and functional environment promotes excellence in all areas. Modular buildings added to your school should both enhance and maintain the productivity of your campus.

Taking into consideration colors, textures, shapes and scale as part of your modular building design will stimulate the staff and the student body. Creating an environment which will encourage positive reactions from your staff and students first requires the breaking of trailer stereotypes. This begins in the initial design phase through the use of imagination, creativity and defining the unique needs of your campus.

Modular buildings have become a staple of many school campuses. The benefits of modular buildings include fast delivery times and affordability, but if not properly designed and installed, they can lend themselves to a "trailer-park" appearance. How can you take advantage of the fast and affordable benefits of modular buildings without experiencing the negative aspects of a school trailer park? It all starts with design and initial planning. You should plan for a long-term space solution using a short-term modular building addition. With this approach, your school can enjoy the increased aesthetic appeal of an attractive modular building (over the short-term) and, if the need for additional space continues (and it always does), you will avoid the negative aspect of having a long-term eyesore on your campus.

Following are some general suggestions for creating a more inviting modular campus (both in short and long-term):

Include attractive and lush landscaping around the building.

Create an impressive entrance by using auxiliary structures such as porticos or porches.

Draw visitors’ eyes away from the square lines of the typical modular building through the addition of interesting supplementary features.

Use unexpected exterior materials such as stone, brick and wood to transform the appearance of the building.

Each modular building project is different and presents its own unique set of variables and solutions. When considering the addition of a modular building to your campus, it is imperative to utilize the services of a professional modular building designer who will ensure that both your school’s short and long-term space needs are met.

This article was written by Jeff Austin of Modular Building Associates located in Coppell, Texas. For more information, please call 866-266-4622 (4MBA) or visit their web sites at www.modularbuildingassociates.com, for information about new modular construction visit www.modulardesignservices.com or for information about used buildings for sale or lease visit www.modularresale.com.