The saying, "one size does not fit all" certainly applies to today’s school classroom needs, where many factors go into consideration in designing the building. Flexibility, affordability, and ease of construction make modular buildings a perfect fit for schools looking to expand capabilities or just trying to get the ideal classroom size that meets their budget requirements. Jody Werner, Sr. VP of Sales for Vanguard Modular Building Systems, LLC, provided insights into the factors that determine school classroom building sizes. “One of the trends we see now, due to space, is people starting to go vertical with the classrooms,” Werner said. “They’re adding a story.” But what determines the classroom size? Werner said it depends on many different factors. The type of school (private, charter, public, higher-ed) plays a role in class size needs, as do varying state regulations and requirements. “At a Montessori school, for example, you have to have 40 square feet of space per child versus 20 square feet per child for a public school,” Werner said. How much available space does a school has to use on the property is another factor in building decisions. If a school requires a small classroom, Werner said it could be built and installed much faster than a larger class. But if larger is needed to get the job done, Vanguard’s modular solutions still provide a quiet and controlled environment. While schools can opt for a standard modular classroom build, customization is available. “Normally, a building comes with an eight-foot ceiling. A lot of times, you’ll have a customer that wants a nine-foot ceiling,” Werner said. “Some rooms require lab space, and you need fume hoods and exhaust systems in there. But, really, it’s about the material used in the building.” The Vanguard sales team works with customers to guide them through the process of getting the exact classroom to meet their needs.