Replacing Old Mobile School Buildings?

Replacing your old modular?

Don’t settle for more of the same.

Many UK schools still have outdated modular buildings; 30 years old, freezing in winter, overheated in summer and long past their prime. The default response? Replace them with another modular cabin.

ZONE is not another modular building. It is a permanent, high-specification building extension designed specifically for the education sector, delivered at speed, without the costs and disruption of traditional construction.

Zero up-front design fees
Faster build times than traditional methods
Significantly reduced running costs
Flexible layouts with real architectural presence to enhance learning
Designed for comfort, energy efficiency and long-term use to enhance your teaching and learning offer

ZONE can connect seamlessly to existing buildings and even reuse your current modular’s concrete base. You don’t need another modular cabin, you need a better classroom.

From this > to this…

Rethinking the Default

“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

Likely paraphrased over the years, Henry Ford’s message still resonates. When thinking about the future, people tend to ask for better versions of what they already know. In the context of school buildings, that might mean replacing an old modular cabin with a newer one.

The issues with some aging modular cabins which need replacing, include: poor insulation, limited lifespan, awkward layouts and rising maintenance costs.

Close your eyes and picture your school’s outdated ‘mobile block’. If you know it needs replacing, it’s likely ropey and poorly insulated at best, a derelict eyesore fit to be torn down at worst. Do you really want to put in another version of that?

Of course, modular infrastructure has improved over the years since original cabins were installed, but simply replacing one cabin with another still has limitations. While a new install might be better than what’s currently in-situ, the longevity of some modular cabins remains poor.

ZONE offers something different. A permanent, high-specification building extension, tailored to the needs of modern education; designed for long-term performance to enhance teaching and learning. Unlike modular building, ZONE is built around a robust steel frame system, so can be configured entirely around your brief. No standardised modules, no one-size-fits-all layouts, just fully design-led spaces that work for your staff and pupils without the compromises of modular building or the cost and disruption of traditional construction.

Replacement for old school mobile classroom. Alternative to modular building.

Modular Pain Points vs. ZONE Benefits

ZONE BenefitsComfortable year-round environments

High-performance envelope systems and energy-efficient services mean ZONE buildings are warm in winter, cool in summer, creating consistent comfort for pupils and staff alike.

ZONE BenefitsNatural light for better focus and wellbeing

Glazed elevations and open-plan interiors bring in daylight, helping improve student concentration, reduce fatigue and create a more inviting space for learning.

ZONE BenefitsAcoustic control and calm

Modern materials and internal layouts help manage noise and maintain a calm, focused atmosphere, essential for inclusive teaching and supporting pupils with additional needs.

Internal classroom, library and study space replacing old mobile classrooms.

ZONE BenefitsBetter supervision and safety

Clean sightlines and clever layouts make classroom management and supervision during transition times easier. Gone are the hidden areas in old mobile blocks which can easily become unsupervised zones inviting negative behaviours.

ZONE BenefitsA place staff want to teach in

Thoughtful architecture, natural materials and most importantly, a well-equipped space, create a professional, uplifting working environment, helping staff morale, retention and recruitment.

ZONE BenefitsFully integrated ICT and infrastructure

High-performance envelope systems and energy-efficient service ZONE classrooms are designed with modern teaching tools in mind, from AV integration to smart lighting and climate control, with cabling and systems built in, not retrofitted.

Impact on teaching and learning:

1. Enables curriculum expansion
By delivering high-quality, permanent classroom space quickly and affordably, ZONE allows schools to add specialist subjects (e.g. science, art, DT) or expand core provision to meet rising intake numbers.

2. Facilitates inclusion and SEND provision
With flexible layouts and built-in accessibility, ZONE spaces can be adapted for small group work, sensory areas, intervention spaces or SEND-specific classrooms, helping meet statutory requirements and support all learners.

3. Reduces lesson disruption
Faster build times and reduced on-site disruption mean teaching continues uninterrupted during installation, particularly important in schools operating at or over capacity.

4. Improves pupil engagement
Light-filled, modern, well-ventilated classrooms help students focus and feel valued, contributing to improved attendance, behaviour and readiness to learn.

5. Aids staff recruitment and retention
High-quality teaching spaces show investment in staff and their working environment, helping attract and retain skilled educators in competitive settings.

6. Boosts compliance with DfE priorities
ZONE buildings are designed to meet energy efficiency, ventilation and build quality standards aligned with DfE expectations, without the long lead times and costs of traditional construction.

8. Increases timetable flexibility
Having extra, high-quality teaching space relieves pressure on room allocation and allows schools to better manage their timetables, particularly important for growing MATs or schools with multiple key stages on site.

Modern replacement for old mobile classrooms

ZONE
2025 Yearbook

Download our 2025 ZONE Design. Build Yearbook. Read more about the unique ZONE design platform allowing for the delivery of high-specification building extension projects to the education sector, view previous projects and find out about the ZONE process – Discover, Design, Construct.

Download