Education administrators face the dual dilemma of crowded, aging facilities and tightening capital budgets. The challenge is to build the necessary classroom, laboratory and activity space while minimizing the length and expense of the construction process. One solution that offers an affordable alternative is modular construction, a method that provides space in less time and at a lower cost than conventional construction methods. Once viewed as a stopgap measure, modular construction has matured since the days of temporary classrooms and now is accepted by many as a permanent solution to space problems. Two characteristics that educators may find appealing about modular construction are speed and affordability. A modular school building or addition generally can be erected more quickly than a "stick-built" structure--a matter of a few weeks to less than six months, depending on the size and complexity of the project. This typically results in lower costs and earlier occupation of the building.