Falkland Activity Centre

Layout of Existing Prefabricated Building

The “cartoons” that I produce may not be to scale and the accuracy of the content is not guaranteed, but they can be produced very quickly – and really, really cheaply so please just accept them. What should be the first one is missing because, working from the bottom up, we would start with the foundations. All I know is that for this type of structure we do not need a complete concrete base, saving a considerable sum of money. Foundations are about a metre square at each of the major support points. They are excavated down to red earth and filled with appropriate concrete and steel (I think). I don’t yet have the drawings for this (Stuart!) but can assume that a foundation is required at least at the corner of every unit. Obviously where the units are joined a single foundation will suffice. I don’t know if there are any at the mid-points. End units (1, 3, 4 and 6) have 7 major supports above ground level. These are the 4” square steel uprights seen most clearly in this picture:

I assume that what holds it all in place below ground level matches to these points. Anyway, I think I was told that there were 28 foundations and that would make sense as units 1, 3, 4 and 6 have 5 supports down one side and units 2 and 5 just have two at each end (joined to the next unit). That makes 28 in total.

Anyway, you will be updated very quickly after I get the proper information.

What we can be more certain of is what goes on above ground level. This diagram shows the external dimensions of each component part.

Each “end” of every unit is about 11’. The sides are split into 4 sections of almost exactly 10’ each. This diagram describes what feature there is on each external section.

Here is a rough schematic of the current layout:

There is a lot of good stuff in the show flat, but most of it is of little use to us – we need large changing rooms with showers and toilets instead. The various different floorings in particular will have to go because that side of the building will be accessed by people wearing metal studs in the soles of their boots. I am hoping that the flooring from the office side can be lifted and reused, as that will be the side of the building where no studs are allowed.

The kitchen and toilets are likely to be the best places for providing us with reusable fittings, but, despite the fact that the ceilings will have to be cut into sections and all the wiring will have to be stripped, the light fittings, air conditioning, heating and the roller shutters will be huge gains for us, improving the finished product and saving us a fortune.

Finally (for this page) I have documented the external dimensions of the structure at roof level:

One of my next high priority tasks is to ascertain if these units can be manoeuvred through the village (or round the estate) to get them to their target destination.

If that proves to be impossible then this project comes to an abrupt end. Height may be an issue in getting past trees, lampposts and telephone wires. The units will be transported on specially-designed flatbed trailers with very small wheels so they are considerably lower than normal trucks of the same length. I will keep you updated on my progress. If you see me running about the estate with some long pieces of wood held above my head please don’t try to get me locked up. I have a good reason for acting strangely.

Existing Building	Proposed Structure	Playing Areas
Current Location	Existing Layout	School Playing Field
External Views	Proposed Layout	Lower Scroggie
Internal Views		Scroggie Park

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