B&K Structures, the construction and engineering operation that branched out from steel-frame to become one of the leaders in UK timber building, and Binderholz, Austria’s biggest CLT-producer, launched their joint venture 18 months ago, having worked together on various projects over the last three years.
"The last Ecobuild was too early to promote the business," said B&K managing director Nick Milestone. "But since then we’ve undertaken a range of products and demand has just kept growing, leading to us launching our new website, featuring some of our case studies, in February – www.xlam-alliance.com."
Starting with London’s Manor Longbridge Primary, and now working on the 1200 pupil Furness Academy, which is using over 3,000m3 of CLT, schools have provided a major slice of X-Lam Alliance’s early portfolio.
"But interest is comng across a range of markets – in total we’ve got around 40 projects underway or in discussion," said Mr Milestone.
According to Binderholz managing diretor Helmut Spiehs, some UK architects had reservations about perceived creative constraints entailed in the degree of prefabrication of X-Lam Alliance’s volumetric approach.
"But we’re getting the message across that the tolerances we work to are a benefit in terms of build times and performance and that volumetric and standardised products don’t mean standardised buildings. They offer high levels of individuality."
Longer term the X-Lam Alliance expects "to undertake some form of CLT fabrication in the UK".
