As the UK’s Raac problems grow, concerned educators complain of a stalled government response

2023-12-27T18:00:00-05:00

The number of schools with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), which the Health and Safety Executive has said is now 'life expired' and could collapse 'with little or no warning,' has been steadily rising since the government announced the sudden closure of more than 100 schools at the end of August, just days before the start of the new academic year.

There are now over 230 schools and colleges listed on the government’s register of buildings under consideration for Raac replacement and repair. The challenge is twofold at present, with contractors' inability to hasten repairs before 2026 being made worse by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's cuts to the rebuilding program just weeks after it was initiated.

No one knows exactly what will happen to the endangered schools in the interim. An anonymous headteacher shared with The Guardian, “The best result would be rebuilding as we have so many problems, but actually we just need some certainty. Parents like shiny new buildings, and Raac definitely isn’t helping our reputation.”

The country's National Audit Office estimates the cost of repairs to be £2.2 billion (or about $2.81 billion USD) annually at present.

The Nakagin Capsule Tower pods… coming soon to a museum near you

2022-05-31T15:28:00-04:00

As reported by The Washington Post and other outlets, some of the 140 surviving capsules will be transformed into rentable apartment units, with others traveling to public collections abroad such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris, which has expressed interest along with many other international institutions. Digitally archived options are being floated as well.

Last month, we explored reactions from the architectural community following the news of the tower’s final decision, which came as a blow to the hard-fought preservation effort put forth by groups like the Nakagin Capsule Tower Building Conservation and Regeneration Project. (The group currently owns 15 of the capsules.)

Last the Nakagin Capsule Tower pic.twitter.com/TiMy4joiwe
— ringo134 (@ringo134) May 31, 2022

The dismantling of its famed “living cells” began last week, causing quite a stir online as fans and observers reacted to the sight of one of Metabolism’s last vestiges being taken apart piece by piece following years...

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As the UK’s Raac problems grow, concerned educators complain of a stalled government response

The Nakagin Capsule Tower pods… coming soon to a museum near you