ISSUE 1
OCTOBER 2020
BUSINESS BULLETIN A round up of latest news and views from the UK’s leading sustainable specialist contractor
IN THIS ISSUE... Project Update
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Word from the MD
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Project Showcase
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Technical Talk
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The Sustainability Agenda
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Offsite Awards Winners Gallery
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AND THE WINNERS ARE…
Jaguar Land Rover’s Advanced Product Creation Centre
2020
WINNER
EDUCATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR The Dreadnought Building, University of Greenwich
COMMERCIAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Awards Success We have excellent news to share – the team at B&K Structures picked up two Offsite Awards at the recent virtual ceremony hosted by Mark Durden Smith. The Dreadnought Building was crowned winner of Education Project of the Year and Jaguar Land Rover’s Advanced Product Creation Centre was awarded Commercial Project of the Year. This outstanding project which features Europe’s largest engineered timber roof, has also reached the finals of the Wood Awards. Andy Goodwin, Managing Director for B&K Structures said of this success: “The offsite sector is driven by innovation and it is rewarding to be acknowledged as a leader in our field by such a distinguished panel of judges. I would like to send my congratulations to our pioneering team and our outstanding construction partners.” The positive news continues with Skelton Lake, a new concept for motorway services, reaching the finals of the Structural Timber Awards across three categories – Commercial Project of the Year, Retail Project of the Year, and Installer of the Year!
For more information on our awards success go to: www.bkstructures.co.uk/latest-news
BUSINESS BULLETIN
PROJECT UPDATE OLD GRAMOPHONE WORKS LONDON Alongside Studio RHE and Heyne Tillett Steel – we are working on the refurbishment of the original Old Gramophone Works. The site lies adjacent to the Grand Union canal and was previously a gramophone factory and recording studio. The project champions the use of engineered timber to sustainably refurbish the existing building. A new glass and timber structure is being built over and around the existing two-storey RC frame. The lightweight engineered timber frame allows existing foundations to support four additional storeys without further strengthening.
NATIONAL SATELLITE TEST FACILITY HARWELL SCIENCE AND INNOVATION CAMPUS Harwell is a world-renowned campus driving forward science and innovation across the world in over 20 sectors, including life sciences, space, clean and green energy, big data, supercomputing and sustainability. On behalf of Mace, alongside Price & Myers and IBI Group – B&K Structures has successfully installed the structural steelwork frame with cross laminated timber floor and roof panels manufactured by Binderholz for the UK’s National Satellite Test Facility. The test facility will be fully complete in 2021 and operational in 2022 allowing the first steps to meet the UK’s space industries need for a set of co-located world-class centres for environmental testing.
UCL PROJECT PEARL On behalf of Volker Fitzpatrick, B&K Structures have successfully installed an internal cross laminated timber and glulam structure with feature staircases within a new steel building. Once finished the project will be UCL’s first net-zero carbon in-use building. PEARL (Person-Environment-Activity Research Laboratory) is an urban prototype laboratory for the creation of full-size environments to test how people use infrastructure and cities. Opening in 2021, this unique facility will explore the ways in which people interact with their environment.
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To find out more about our projects go to: www.bkstructures.co.uk/case-studies
BUSINESS BULLETIN
WORD FROM THE MD… The driving force in the development of our business model is sustainability. Designing and constructing projects using materials that are environmentally responsible, resource-efficient and cost effective will continue to be our mantra. Change isn’t coming, it’s here and we are now seeing engagement from major stakeholders actively pursuing alternative forms of construction in their drive toward net zero carbon targets by 2050. Our track record for delivering highly sustainable projects is being recognised and attracting significant interest from major development corporations and tier 1 contractors looking to reduce their carbon footprint. The construction industry is evolving, and it is abundantly clear that we are in the midst of a major sea change. It is extremely rewarding to be at the forefront of this progression and helping to advance how buildings are designed and developed with sustainable products.
Research and development is crucial to the continued development of our business model, especially the wider use of CLT, we are heavily invested within industry wide research projects to develop a compliance route for the design of CLT to meet new building regulations.
2020 has presented it’s challenges, keeping people safe will always be our main priority and together with the help of our valued construction partners, we have been able to maintain safe working environments without any reportable instances. The pandemic is probably the most significant traumatic event to beset the world in modern times, there is no doubt of the impact on individuals, society and our workforce, yet as a business I am extremely proud of the way the business has adapted and evolved over the last 7-8 months. At the precise point of lockdown we were faced with delivering projects in the midst of our busiest trading period through remote working, not only did we deliver safely and on programme, we essentially fast tracked our ability to work and function remotely, we accelerated and implemented our ERP system and in the process effectively reduced our carbon footprint through virtual meetings and moving towards a paperless environment. We don’t know what a new normal looks like yet, there’s one thing for certain B&K Structures will retain and enhance many of these beneficial working practices. I am certain that we face an exciting future for not only our company but also the construction industry. Reducing carbon emissions to mitigate climate change is at the top of the construction agenda - we have the skills and technology and are ideally placed to deliver sustainable projects at scale to benefit both our clients and the environment.
Andrew Goodwin - Managing Director B&K STRUCTURES
www.bkstructures.co.uk
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BUSINESS BULLETIN
PROJECT SHOWCASE
SKELTON LAKE Located east of Leeds on the M1– Skelton Lake is a new concept for motorway services. This scheme is home to a wide range of food and beverage outlets together with retail and leisure facilities.
Construction Partners Client: Extra MSA Group Main Contractor: Morgan Sindall Architect: Architecture 519 Specialist Frame Contractor: B&K Structures
There was a desire for a unique design which would blend seamlessly into the landscape. The brief for the central building was exposed long span glulam beams and cross laminated timber panels – the structure is topped off with an undulating sedum roof. B&K Structures was appointed to design, fabricate and install the structure together with the ambitious roof formed from timber cassettes, panels and curved glulam beams.
CLT Manufacturer: Binderholz Glulam Manufacturer: Rubner Holzbau Timber Cassettes Manufacturer: Rubner Holzbau
The technical challenge for our team was to design each individual roof ribbon to act as a diaphragm. Taking a computer aided engineering approach, we were able to produce a robust design strategy. Thanks to the efficiency of the design, windows could be slotted into place between the glulam ribbons – bringing light into the space. The design of bespoke hidden connections leave no visual clues, so the users can fully appreciate the impression of movement given by the continuous beams. The high quality roof cassette system was developed in close collaboration with our Austrian partners Rubner, whose experience in designing the timber cassettes was invaluable for this unique scheme.
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BUSINESS BULLETIN
PROJECT SHOWCASE
POPLAR WORKS
Construction Partners Client: Poplar HARCA Architect: Calfordseaden
Poplar Works is a unique multi-million-pound fashion and ‘makery’ hub combining manufacturing, training and affordable studio space, together with a community cafe, events and garden area.
Main Contractor: Niblock Building Contractors Structural Engineer: Price and Myers Timber Engineer: Price and Myers Specialist Frame Contractor: B&K Structures CLT manufacturer: Stora Enso
The hybrid cross laminated timber and steel scheme, designed and installed by B&K Structures, has transformed eighty disused garages into a cornerstone for the recreative and industrial identity of Poplar. Poplar Works has been developed by Poplar HARCA Housing Association, in partnership with the Greater London Authority, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London and workspace provider The Trampery. The scheme strengthens London’s position as a global centre for fashion and importantly, provides an increase in job opportunities and training for the borough of Poplar which currently has one of the city’s highest unemployment rates. The use of CLT overcame challenging logistical restrictions posed by the narrow shape of the site and its proximity to the A12 on one side and residential properties on the other. The hybrid system of CLT and steel in the cafe space has enabled the creation of a striking double height sawtooth roof and aesthetically, the natural look and feel of CLT has been embraced throughout. Externally the building is wrapped with rubber and translucent polycarbonate. Painted timber creates shopfronts and a lively working yard to what was previously an underused back street.
To find out more about our projects go to: www.bkstructures.co.uk/case-studies
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BUSINESS BULLETIN
TECHNICAL TALKS
CLT FIRE TESTING B&K Structures along with other industry leaders are working with the Structural Timber Association (STA) to simplify and clarify the Building Regulations compliance route for cross laminated timber (CLT).
Over the next 18 months the research supporting the new framework will include a series of compartment fire tests for commercial and multi-family residential type buildings. The purpose of this ongoing research is to provide scientific data for CLT fire performance that will support designers in the delivery of robust fire safety designs. The project proposals and outputs will be reviewed by an independent industry stakeholder group and it is intended to release data as and when it becomes available during the course of the programme. The first two elements of work – the Compliance Roadmap for Mass Timber and a literature review of pre-existing test data are now available for download from the STA website. The CLT industry in the UK supported by the STA is also responding to recent statements raising concern about the gaps in knowledge and competency relating to mass timber by providing evidence of the product fire performance and data to support competent professionals in the design of mass timber buildings for fire. This evidence will enhance the understanding of fire performance of CLT in terms of compartment fire behaviour, the response of structural elements and hazards associated with external fire spread. Steel – CLT Connection Research B&K Structures supported by leading fire engineering consultants is engaging in research into the behaviour of CLT to steel connections to enhance our knowledge of how these elements behave in combination. BKS will be moving into the testing phase of this project in late 2020/early 2021. EN 1365 Loaded Panel Tests Working with our CLT supply partners, B&K Structures continue to carry out EN 1365-2 tests to further reinforce the data that we are able to provide to support project teams as they develop designs. Full-scale Compartment Tests Where the project requires it, through working closely with the project fire engineer, structural engineer and architect, B&K Structures are able to organise full-scale compartment tests in partnership with accredited testing houses in the UK and Europe.
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To submit an enquiry to our technical team go to: www.bkstructures.co.uk/contact-us
BUSINESS BULLETIN
THE SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA
Decarbonising Construction As global leaders grapple with issues surrounding climate change, the team at B&K Structures has consistently considered how to effectively lock up carbon and maximise the benefits of engineered timber technology for our clients and minimise the impact on our planet.
Engineered timber builds boast environmental benefits both in terms of raw materials and the numerous advantages associated with offsite construction. Using timber as a core structural component for developments across all sectors is already capturing over one million tonnes of CO2 through carbon sequestration every year. Carbon sequestration describes the long-term storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) to mitigate global warming and avoid dangerous climate change. The natural process of carbon sequestration which occurs in trees enables each cubic metre of timber to store circa 900 kg of CO2 and hold captive during its entire lifetime – even when it has been processed for use in construction. Responsibly sourced timber has the capability to vastly reduce our dependency on concrete, decreasing global carbon emissions by 4-8%. Whilst the climate crisis can feel like a huge abstract issue to successfully resolve, here at B&K Structures we maintain that everyone has a collective responsibility to contribute to a better, more sustainable environment. Solid wood products, such as cross laminated timber are natural and far less energy-intensive to produce and apply than alternative structural materials. Not only is it renewable, but the production process also creates minimal waste and all offcuts are recycled. For every cubic metre of CLT manufactured, 676 kg of CO2 will still be stored. B&K Structures are not engineered timber purists. Our business model focuses on hybrid construction solutions. However, cross laminated timber is by far the most exciting revolutionary building material that will be significant in our future development plans. The UK has a magnificent heritage of timber architecture dating back to the thirteenth century and now the Time for Timber and Wood Co2sts Less campaigns are collectively promoting the benefits. B&K Structures are now building on this legacy using ground-breaking engineered timber systems to create a more sustainable future for generations to come.
To discover more about our commitment to sustainability go to: www.bkstructures.co.uk/our-services/sustainability www.bkstructures.co.uk
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BUSINESS BULLETIN
2020
WINNERS GALLERY
22.09.20 RICOH ARENA - COVENTRY
DREADNOUGHT BUILDING
ADVANCED PRODUCT CREATION CENTRE
Education Project of the Year
Commercial Project of the Year
Transforming a former naval hospital within a UNESCO World Heritage Site is no small task, the Dreadnought Building at the University of Greenwich is an amazing structure. As part of a team of specialists, we sensitively restored the Grade II listed building by stripping it back and modernising it ready for its contemporary role at the heart of the University.
Jaguar Land Rover’s own sustainability strategy shaped the building philosophy together with the desire to create a defining roof structure from engineered timber technology that reflects the pioneering work taking place within. A diverse range of spaces has been brought together under one of Europe’s largest engineered timber roofs designed, engineered and installed by B&K Structures.
Construction Partners
Construction Partners
Client: University of Greenwich
Client: Jaguar Land Rover
Main Contractor: Willmott Dixon
Main Contractor: Laing O’Rourke
Architect: Dannatt Johnson Associates
Architect: Bennett Associates
M&E: Andrew Reid and Partners
Structure, Services and Specialist Engineering: Buro Happold
Structural: Alan Baxter Associates
Specialist Frame Contractor: B&K Structures
Specialist Frame Contractor: B&K Structures
CLT Supplier: Binderholz
CLT Supplier: Stora Enso
Glulam Supplier: Derix
Glulam & Timber Cassette Supplier: Rubner Holzbau
Quantity Surveyor: Thomas and Adamson
Through careful design detailing and value engineering, B&K Structures is able to offer the best possible offsite manufactured construction solutions, ensuring a smooth integration for follow-on trades – delivering award-winning sustainable projects on time and to budget.
B&K Structures @BKStructures bkstructures
If you would like to find out more about our services and extensive product portfolio:
T 01773 853 400
E sales@bkstructures.co.uk
www.bkstructures.co.uk
