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Modular schools and nurseries

Pacarada Modular Building Systems, Kelkheim (Taunus), Germany · Last updated: September 2026

Many municipalities need additional classrooms and nursery places quickly. In Germany, a legal right to all-day care for primary school children has been in force since 1 August 2026, starting with first-year pupils and extended year by year to all four primary school years by 2029. Modular construction delivers permanent school buildings in a short time, and they can later be extended, converted or reused elsewhere.

What school authorities need

School authorities often face the same task: the need is there, construction should disrupt teaching as little as possible, and the project has to stay within budget. Modular construction helps with all three. Factory production shortens the time on site. Assembly can be scheduled so that school life is affected as little as possible, for example during the holidays. And early, binding planning makes costs easier to calculate.

Permanent, not containers

Modern modular schools are not temporary container buildings. The Pacarada Modular Building System creates permanent buildings that meet the same requirements for structural safety, fire protection, sound and thermal insulation as conventionally built schools. Large open spaces such as canteens or assembly halls can be designed with columns and beams (1D), classrooms and sanitary areas as finished room modules (3D).

Grow, convert, reuse

Pupil numbers change. Because all components in the Pacarada system are bolted and plugged to the Cube instead of welded, a building can later be extended, raised, converted or dismantled and reused elsewhere. Classrooms can become group rooms; a temporary extension can become a permanent site.

Requirements for school and nursery buildings

In Germany, schools must meet the building code of the federal state, in some states a school building guideline and the school authority’s room schedule; nurseries also follow the rules of the state youth welfare office and the accident insurers. These cover escape routes and fire protection, room acoustics and sound insulation between rooms, accessibility, daylight and outdoor areas. As with any school building, these requirements are fixed in the design; the modules and components are then made in the factory.

How a modular school project runs

  1. Need and site: room schedule, number of classes or groups, access and crane position.
  2. Design with the system: architect and structural engineer work with the system grid from the start.
  3. Permit: building permit application as for any other school building.
  4. Factory production: modules and components are made in parallel with foundations and connections on site.
  5. Assembly: placing, bolting and connecting the modules at the Cube.
  6. Fit-out and handover: remaining work, outdoor areas, acceptance.

Frequently asked questions

How quickly can a modular school be built?

That depends on size, permit and site. Time is saved because factory production and site work run in parallel. The housing project at Holzhofallee in Darmstadt was built with the Pacarada system 44% faster than with conventional construction.

Can a modular school be extended later?

Yes. In the Pacarada Modular Building System the components are bolted and plugged instead of welded. The building can therefore later be extended, raised, converted or dismantled and reused elsewhere.

Is modular construction suitable for nurseries?

Yes. Nurseries, with their recurring group, sleeping and sanitary rooms, suit modular construction well. Requirements such as accessibility, room acoustics and outdoor areas are fixed in the design; rooms and fit-out are made in the factory, outdoor areas on site.

More articles in the modular building guide

Planning a project? Send us your enquiry, ideally with drawings. You will find all system data on our Facts and figures page.