An innovative approach to temporary educational facilities: A case study of relocatable modular school in South Korea

School remodeling/renovation has been a popular issue in education to deal with the growth of city populations and the reduction of school quality. For that concern, the concept of a relocatable modular school (RMS) has been adopted to address temporary classroom requirements during the renovation of the old school. Using a case study research approach, this paper analyzes the development of an RMS facility to investigate its effective performance in terms of engineering process, physical conditions, and life cycle assessment. Results show that the RMS system provides a high-quality learning environment while also being easily dismantled and relocated, making it a suitable solution for the ever-changing needs of educational delivery programs and new city development. This study emphasizes the significance of modular construction methods for school facilities and aims to encourage the adoption of RMS by practitioners and stakeholders, ultimately promoting the future advancement of modular construction methods. •The first relocatable modular school system for lease in South Korea offers high-quality temporary educational facilities.•The “Green Smart School" program supports the production and rental service of RMS for renovating public schools.•RMS performance regarding design and technical engineering, construction process, cost efficiency, and LCA was examined.•Product supply contract achieved success in improving management, efficiency, construction time, and product quality.