Ramtech Constructs Learning Studios for Eanes (TX) ISD
Eanes ISD Learning Studio
Ramtech recently completed two next generation portable classrooms for the Eanes Independent School District located in Austin, Texas. The innovative modular building project was a collaborative effort led by Pfluger Architects which began by using our industry standard portable double classroom design, then modifying the interior and exterior in order to create a new type of instructional environment dubbed the ‘Learning Studio’. Ramtech manufactured and installed both modular buildings at the school district’s Cedar Creek Elementary school location. Each 1,536 square foot facility features a bank of three seven-foot tinted aluminum framed awning windows that allow for increased lighting and ventilation. The standard 2×4′ box lighting was replaced with linear pendant fixtures that provide both direct and indirect light creating a more natural light quality. The typical wall-mounted through wall HVAC units that can create unwanted noise were replaced with split systems with a closet mounted air handler, outside condenser unit, and exposed spiral duct. (more…)
- Published in Education, Modular Construction, Ramtech News
Alpine Christian School Primed For Growth With Ramtech Multiple Classroom Building
Ramtech returned to photograph the recently completed eight classroom modular school building we constructed and installed for Alpine Christian School in Alpine, Texas. Alpine Christian’s Homeward Bound Building Campaign provided the funding for the 8,064 square foot facility which opened in August and is being used for the private school’s Kindergarten thru 12th grade students. Using one of our standard classroom inventory designs, the value-engineered facility utilizes an R-panel metal siding exterior with wall-mounted HVAC units zoned for maximum heating and cooling efficiency. Ramtech’s scope of work on-site included the setting of the building on a pad prepared by the school’s contractor and the installation of the vinyl composition tile flooring. The new modular building sits on part of the 21 acres that the school acquired in 2016 through the generous donation of two of the schools local benefactors. The school had previously leased facilities from a local church for its 55 students, but with the increase in space that the new facility provides they project that they can increase enrollment to over 200 students in the next few years. The additional acreage will also allow them to develop an astronomy program, along with adding a rugby field, running track, and an equestrian riding center. (more…)
- Published in Education, Modular Building, Modular Construction
Changes to Time Warrant Financing Provide New Construction Possibilities for Texas Public Schools
Financial instruments known as Time Warrants have been available to Texas public schools since 1995, however their flexibility for use in construction projects was limited due to their $500,000 maximum loan amounts and terms that were restricted to no more than five years. Now that’s all changed, thanks to the efforts of Southlake, Texas-based Government Capital Corporation and the Texas Rural Education Association. Effective September 1, 2013 the legislature passed House Bill 2610 which dramatically improved the efficiencies of using Time Warrant financing by expanding the terms up to 15 years and increasing the maximum loan amounts to $1 million. This means that school districts that have a need for capital improvement projects can supplement their available cash balances with Time Warrant financing, eliminating the need to obtain additional voter approved bonds. (more…)
- Published in Education
Ramtech Releases Video Featuring West ISD Modular School Building Replacement Campus
Ramtech has released a new video that highlights the recently completed modular construction of the instructional and support facilities for the West (TX) ISD’s replacement middle and high school campus. Narrated by Dr. Marty Crawford, the District’s superintendent of schools, the video highlights the modular school buildings that are located on the West Middle School site which was destroyed by the massive fertilizer plant explosion on April 17 of last year. The temporary campus is comprised of 28 separate structures including 17 new relocatable modular buildings that were designed, manufactured, and installed by Ramtech. The 69,776 square foot modular construction project includes three 10-classroom buildings, four computer and science labs, two locker room buildings, an administrative office, cafeteria, band hall, and a life skills building.
- Published in Education
Ramtech Releases New Promotional Video for Relocatable Modular Classroom Buildings
Ramtech has released a new promotional video highlighting our line of multiple classroom options for facility additions and expansions at public and private schools. The video provides an opportunity for educators to view the benefits of using our relocatable modular building designs which range in size from 4 to 16 classrooms and can be used to meet a wide variety of temporary or long-term use requirements. The video is part of our integrated promotional campaign designed to highlight a standard floor plan six-classroom modular wing addition that was installed as a demonstration facility adjacent to our corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant. The video will emphasize our abilities and show prospective school clients how they can meet their facility requirements using our customizable multiple classroom buildings. As a full service design-build construction company, we can provide them with a first-hand look at what we can be done using our approach to relocatable buildings and permanent modular construction.
For over 30 years we have provided public, private, and faith-based schools throughout the Southwest with portable classroom buildings through an inventory program that typically keeps over 50 two-classroom modular buildings (both with and without restrooms) on hand for immediate delivery. Available using sale or lease options, our program has enabled us to become the largest supplier of portable classrooms in the Southwest. During 2012, Ramtech provided nearly 100 portable classroom buildings to public, private, and charter schools in a five state area. The primary advantages to the two classroom modular building is they require little if any site preparation and are easily relocated as the needs of the school change. While multiple classroom buildings often require more site development, they do provide the look and feel of permanent facilities and are much faster and less expensive than actual site constructed school additions. They also can lead to a safer environment by allowing teachers and students to change classes while remaining in the same building for an entire school day. Individual classroom buildings can be designed and constructed to address requirements for computer and science labs, administrative offices, and specialty classrooms for all age groups. Exterior finishes can be as simple and low cost as R-panel steel siding, or as permanent looking as synthetic stucco or brick veneer paneling. The interior finishes are very similar to site constructed buildings including the use of T-grid ceilings, recessed lighting, vinyl covered sheetrock walls, and vinyl composition tile or carpeted floors. Custom multiple classroom buildings can also be designed, manufactured, and installed usually within a 60-90 day time frame depending on the site conditions and local permitting requirements.
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Gary White is Vice President of Sales & Estimating at Ramtech Building Systems, Inc. He has been in the commercial modular industry for 33 years and is responsible for the management of all sales and estimating efforts across each of Ramtech’s key market segments: Education, Government, Medical, and Commercial.
- Published in Education, Modular Construction, Ramtech News
Ramtech Receives Redwater (TX) ISD Contract for Permanent Modular Construction
Last week Ramtech received word that the Redwater (TX) school board has approved a design-build agreement with us to proceed with providing preconstruction services for a 18,348 square foot middle school building to be completed next August prior to the 2014-2015 school year. The proposed $2.6 million project will require demolishing the School District’s existing seven classroom middle school facility and replacing it with a permanent modular building using our Accelerated Building System (ABS) which will accommodate 15 classrooms, a science lab, office area, and data room. The project also includes full site development including the extension and connection of utilities, rerouting an existing bus lane, building up the existing site elevation, and providing for additional sidewalks, canopies, and fencing. The modular school building will be able to accommodate 350 – 400 students and will include full lockers in the interior hallway, a full brick exterior designed to complement the surrounding structures, and textured and painted walls in the interior. (more…)
- Published in Education, Permanent Construction, Ramtech News
Relocatable Modular Buildings and Permanent Modular Construction on Display at TASB
Ramtech returns to the 53rd annual TASB/TASA Convention again this year, a conference we have been participating in for the last 25 years. We will be represented by both Sabrina Queen and Bill Barron who will showcase our relocatable modular buildings and permanent modular construction capabilities for Texas public schools in booths 317 & 319 on September 27-28 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.
Since 1960, the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) have partnered to bring school board members and school administrators the state’s largest education-related convention. Representing more than 6,000 public school officials from over 1,000 independent school districts across the state, the conference always provides an ideal opportunity for us to follow-up with our huge number of past customers as well as potential clients in need of portable classrooms, multiple classroom buildings, and permanent facilities using our Accelerated Building System permanent modular construction method.
- Published in Education, Modular Construction, Permanent Construction, Ramtech News
Looking at the Future of School Construction: Ramtech’s ABS Building System
While the enrollment in public schools throughout the southwest has been growing, the funding for new school construction has not. Many small and mid-sized rural school districts often have over crowded classrooms but because of the difficulties in passing school bond elections and several years of flat property tax revenues, they do not have the funds necessary to build new schools. However Ramtech has an answer for many districts that find themselves in this situation, and it starts with our Accelerated Building System, a permanent modular construction process that provides quality facilities with up to a 25% cost savings and a substantially shorter construction timeline. (more…)
- Published in Education, Permanent Construction, Ramtech News
West (TX) ISD Starts School Year in New Ramtech Modular Buildings
As the rebuilding effort continues for the West Independent School District in West, Texas, Ramtech publicly announced that we completed the essential instructional and support facilities that were required for the District’s middle and high school students to start the 2013 school year on August 26. The temporary campus is comprised of 28 structures including 17 new relocatable modular buildings that are located on the West Middle School site that was destroyed by the massive fertilizer plant explosion on April 17 of this year. Ramtech designed, manufactured, and installed the 69,776 square foot modular construction project which includes three 10-classroom buildings, four computer and science labs, two locker room buildings, an administrative office, cafeteria, band hall, and a life skills building. All of the buildings were built with a 26 gauge R-panel metal exterior, and have interiors that incorporate vinyl covered gypsum on the walls and vinyl composition tiles for the floors. We anticipate the special use facilities to be completed and operational prior to September 15. All of the modular school buildings for the $2.5 million project were leased through the Texas BuyBoard cooperative purchasing network and will be used for the next two years while new intermediate/middle and high schools facilities are constructed.
- Published in Education, Modular Construction, Ramtech News