The Mobile Classroom Conversion
This week we converted a L4H2 Fiat Ducato into a mobile classroom for a college based in the North West of England. The mobile classroom will be used by students studying specialist subjects such as robotics.
The college’s new mobile classroom is based on a Fiat Ducato.
Since the first mobile youth club which showcased at last year’s CV show, we have now converted in excess of 20 mobile youth clubs and classrooms. Our design ideas have developed dramatically during this process and our latest mobile classroom included an array of brand new, innovative ideas.
Access into the mobile classroom can be achieved via an electric step fitted below the side load door. To make it easier when boarding the minibus, we have installed 2 grab handles on either side of the entrance. For safety reasons, we have also added high-visibility capping on the door edge.
In the rear saloon, the vehicle features a U-shaped seating area with lift-up bases for additional storage. This seating area includes memory foam cushions upholstered in a blue diamond stitch UV, abrasion and fire-resistant material. To compliment this, we have line the vehicle in a grey soft feel material and added blue accents to features such as the TV surrounds, lockers, table top and door cards. On either side of the skylight we have also installed 2 matching blue diamond stitch roof panels.
Inside the mobile classroom we have installed a specially designed bulkhead to house the television.
Opposite the seating area we have built a 40” TV monitor with a soundbar and subwoofer into a specially designed bulkhead. The college can use this equipment for lessons and presentations. We have also limo tinted the rear saloon and rear door windows to decrease the amount of glare on the monitor and to reduce any distractions to those studying. To ensure that the students remain comfortable whilst studying, we have installed Eberspacher heating and air conditioning.
The mobile classroom features a memory foam U-shaped seating area with a removable table.
Being a mobile classroom, we understood that the vehicle would require lots of storage space for valuable equipment such as laptops. To store this equipment, we installed 2 overhead lockable storage units and a full-length lockable cupboard. Beside the cupboard we have created a desk space with a whiteboard, leaflet holders, 240-volt power sockets and USB charging points.
For additional outdoor space we have fitted an awning to the side of the vehicle. This enables the college to provide lessons to a larger group of people no matter the weather. To illuminate the awning area, we have installed 2 scene lights to the exterior of the vehicle.
To accomodate for passengers using wheelchairs we have included a set of Koller ramps. These ramps can easily be fitted to the entrance of the vehicle and a wheelchair can comfortably sit at the head of the centre table.
We have also included Koller ramps for wheelchair passengers.
The mobile classroom includes many electrical components such as:
TV monitor with Bluetooth soundbar and subwoofer
Full Wi-Fi system
4x 240-volt power sockets for students to plug their laptops into
Pop-up USC charging points
HDMI socket with automatic switchover
4x large rear saloon LED roof lights with blue / white facility
Low level blue LED lights
LED step light in the side load door
To power all of this we have included a 2000-watt inverter with a voltage display unit, 3 auxiliary batteries with a split charging system and an external hook-up point.
Many of our clients are now sourcing electric vehicles but unfortunately when the college ordered their Fiat Ducato, the electric option was not yet available. So, in order to make the minibus more carbon neutral for them, we have installed a roof mounted solar panel. This will trickle feed the interior electrics and ensure that the classroom always has some form of power.
Our corporate sales manager, Paul Dedman, will be doing a COVID-secure handover with the college in the new year, we really hope that they enjoy using their new classroom.
Want to see more of our bespoke conversions? Click here.