FEATURE HORRIS HILL
Photo © Jim Stephenson
Grand Entrance for UC4 Glulam
A new school auditorium for Horris Hill Preparatory School on its rural campus near Newbury, Berkshire, has been transformed using structural engineered timber and a Use Class 4 (UC4) treated glulam portico.
T
he choice of materials for the new David Brownlow theatre at Horris Hill School was driven by three main concerns – context, sustainability and affordability. These were all delivered through the specification of a
primary structure made from PEFC-certified spruce cross laminated timber (CLT) and a specially treated pine external glulam portico from Piveteaubois, that frames the building’s primary entrance to the school. The theatre is an intimate performance space seating up to 160 people and the timber-lined interior provides an appropriate backdrop to the drama that will be enjoyed by both the school and wider community. Eurban were appointed as specialist timber engineers and subcontractors to carry out the design, supply and assembly of the new theatre’s CLT and glulam superstructure, after being approached by Johnathan Tuckey Design in 2016 for early specialist input on the engineered timber aspects of the project. A unique aspect of the building is the glulam portico. This ‘playful’ structure is taller than the building and echoes the diagonal lines of the red wood fibre cement cladding panels. It is a sculptural element creating a dramatic threshold to the new theatre. The building consists of 7.56m3 of UC4 impregnated pine GL24h glulam beams – both TANALITH and TANATONE treated – and supplied by leading French timber supplier Piveteaubois. The timber was treated and processed at Piveteaubois’ factory in Sainte Florence, France, before being shipped to site. The process used to produce UC4 treated glulam beams, firstly sees each layer of pine, moisture controlled before an initial high pressure TANALITH treatment to Photo © Eurban
UC4 requirements. The layers are then kiln dried in preparation for the glue
Timber Construction Magazine
Winter 2021
26
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