Multi-Modular Classroom Buildings vs. Standalone Classrooms: Which Is Right for You?

Jan 21, 2020

Does your school need to add classrooms to accommodate a growing student population? It’s time to lease multi-modular classroom buildings! You have a variety of options when it comes to adding modular space. For starters, you’ll need to choose between one large building with several classrooms or multiple standalone classrooms. To make your decision easier, this blog will review the pros and cons of each option.

Option A: One Large Temporary Modular Classroom Building

There are many benefits to leasing one large modular building for your school. You should consider a large building for your school if:

Your school is in an area that experiences extreme temperatures, especially cold.
Your temporary classroom needs to accommodate a lot of students at once.
You expect to use your temporary classroom for a long period of time.
You prefer the look of one large building, as opposed to small classrooms spread across campus.
You want to cover walkways or build a conditioned corridor to connect the temporary building to your main school building.
You want to incorporate a cafeteria, offices, or other non-classroom-related areas within the classroom building.

Pros of Choosing One Large Building

Below you’ll find a list of the benefits associated with large temporary modular classroom buildings:

Larger buildings take up less space than smaller buildings while still providing the same number of classrooms.
Larger buildings require fewer decks, steps, and ramps than smaller buildings.
Larger buildings offer enhanced security since students don’t have to go outside between classes. Instead, an interior corridor connects the classrooms.
Students don’t have to leave the building to use the restroom since they’re typically included.
Larger buildings offer simplified maintenance since maintaining a single building is easier than maintaining multiple buildings.
Installation is easier because utilities and plumbing are run to one location, rather than multiple locations across campus.
Larger buildings create a community experience because they come with common areas. These build relationships between students and teachers and provide a place for gatherings.

Cons of Choosing One Large Building

Depending on your specific situation, a single modular classroom building may not be the right fit. Here are a few cons of choosing one large building:

Large multi-modular classroom buildings are inflexible rectangles and may not fit into the flow of your campus. As a result, they often end up on a sports field or parking lot, which isn’t ideal for students, teachers, or administration.
Increasing or downsizing modular space is difficult with a large building compared to simply adding or removing small buildings. BOXX Modular buildings can be expanded or contracted, but this can prove complicated depending on the site.
Initially, it may look/seem more expensive to rent one large modular classroom building. However, there is likely not much of a difference when all of the smaller buildings are added together.

multiple-small-temporary-modular-classroom-buildings

You know the pros and cons of choosing one large temporary modular classroom building. Let’s take a closer look at why you might choose several smaller buildings and the benefits of doing so. You should consider multiple small buildings for your school if:

Your school is located in a warm or temperate climate.
You expect to add or phase out temporary classroom space slowly over time.
You want to create an outdoor classroom space that connects several small classrooms together.
Your school campus is small, so the classrooms have to be squeezed in where there’s space.

Pros of Choosing Multiple Small Buildings

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of leasing multiple small modular classroom buildings:

They can be installed very quickly.
They take up very little space.
Temporary space can be phased in and out simply by adding or removing individual modular classrooms.
Each classroom has three exterior walls, which creates the opportunity for lots of natural light.
Lease terms and lengths tend to be more flexible with smaller buildings.
Lease rates increase in size incrementally as classrooms are added, rather than all at once like with larger buildings. Curious about portable classroom costs? Lease rates for temporary modular classroom buildings generally run anywhere from $1 to $1.50 per square foot per month.

Cons of Choosing Multiple Small Buildings

There are also several cons of leasing multiple small modular classroom buildings, which we’ll review below:

Depending on the situation, having several smaller buildings may create a fragmented feeling on your campus.
Small classrooms often don’t include restrooms since it’s costly to run water and sewer to individual buildings. This means students have to leave the building to use the restroom.
Since students have to leave the classroom to use the restroom or travel to the cafeteria and their other classes, security can be a concern.
Having multiple small classrooms involves a lot of decks, steps, and ramps. You’ll also need a large amount of sidewalk to connect the buildings to each other and to the main school building.
It can be very expensive to cover the sidewalks between each classroom with canopies.