Glulam and cross-laminated timber were chosen as a sympathetic structural solution for a new agriculture college teaching block in the grounds of a Grade 1 listed mansion house.
The materials, supplied by Finnforest, were used to blend in with existing buildings at Berkshire College of Agriculture and the landscape.
Glulam forms the main timber frame, while Finnforest’s Leno cross-laminated timber product forms the roof, on which external insulation and a sedum roof were laid.
Architect Liam Boon, from Archial Architects, said using timber had delivered a 20-30% improvement on U-values compared to Part L standards.
“Due to glulam’s natural timber appearance, it was ideal for as much of the frame to be externally exposed,” he added.
“Similarly, the Leno panels used to construct the roof delivered a strong, level base onto which the sedum roof covering could be laid helping to achieve the organic finish desired.”
