A New Modular Daycare Facility in Cawston:
Exploring the Benefits of Modular Buildings for Educational Facilities
Before
As a growing community, Cawston, BC was in desperate need of a new daycare facility. According to Deb Sansome, the Director of Facilities for the Okanagan Similkameen School District #53, there was a clear gap in daycare services in the community. “Our primary school in Cawston caters to grades K to 4,” she explained, “and there's a demand for daycare services for future students, as well as pre- and post-school support.”
The school district approached BC’s Ministry of Education and Childcare Development and was invited to submit a detailed application for project funding. “It required adherence to very strict regulations and took about a year to get approved,” Sansome said, “but we were eventually successful, and we were very excited to move forward.”
Truckload arrives with the first half of the newly built daycare center.
The next step was deciding how to approach the construction of the facilities. “We were looking at two options,” Sansome explained, “either building onto the existing school or going with a modular structure.”
For Sansome and her team, as they considered costs and the benefits of modular buildings, eventually that option won out. So the contract was tendered, and various modular companies entered into the bidding process, including Chaparral in Kelowna, BC.
“We received in a couple of submissions,” said Sansome, “and Chapparal was the clear winner, primarily due to their competitive pricing and the good reviews we had heard.”
During
Once Chaparral was chosen, Sansome had the opportunity to visit their manufacturing facility in Kelowna, which solidified her confidence in their capabilities. “Touring the facility was incredible to see how everything worked,” she said.
Working with Chaparral throughout the process of preparation and installation went remarkably well. “Chaparral was fantastic throughout,” Sansome concluded. “They kept us informed about where they were at, and they completed the project on time and on budget. I couldn't have asked for more.”
The second truck arrives with the remaining building.
Working with Chaparral throughout the process of preparation and installation went remarkably well. “Chaparral was fantastic throughout,” Sansome concluded. “They kept us informed about where they were at, and they completed the project on time and on budget. I couldn't have asked for more.”
Communication was crucial, especially when coordinating with their other contractor, Greyback Construction.
“Zac at Chaparral always gave me plenty of notice for what was coming up,” Sansome explained. “We were able to coordinate everything in a way that made us feel ready for each phase right up until the building on our property.”
The modular structure was installed in late August 2024, and the facility was licensed and ready for children by October.
Want to get in touch? Begin your modular build today.
Sky view of Cawston's new two piece daycare center being manuvered into place.
After
The new daycare in Cawston quickly became an asset to the community. The facility not only houses daycare services but also accommodates children who need before and after school care.
“Some children get dropped off by parents early in the morning before school starts,” said Sansome, “and others stay after school to wait for their parents to pick them up. It offers an important service for families in this community.”
Sansome was frank about the challenges of starting a new daycare program like this, in terms of staffing and day-to-day operation. However, the daycare in Cawston appears to be poised for long-term success. And for Sansome in particular, a critical part of that outlook was the positive experience of working with Chaparral.
Reflecting on her experience, Sansome expressed a clear sense of satisfaction with the overall process. “Chaparral was great,” she remarked. “Really, I’m happy to give a testimonial because it was truly a positive experience, especially considering the negative reputation that some companies have in industries like this.”
With the first weeks of operation now behind them, the new daycare in Cawston stands as a testament to the power of initiatives that are collaborative and community focused.
Interested to learn more about the benefits of modular buildings for educational or childcare facilities?
If you’d like a factory tour or a chance to talk to someone like Zac at Chaparral, call today at 1.866.765.2985
Explore the Chaparral advantage.
