FEATURE MAGDALENE COLLEGE
Timber Turns Over a New Leaf
The University of Cambridge has achieved a literary timber milestone with WoodEx® Florian European Oak for its award-winning new library at Magdalene College.
W
inner of both the Gold Award
and materials supplier James Latham. The team
the important balance of service, quality and price.
and the Education and Public
recommended the product due to its high-quality
I genuinely believe that a solid oak project on this
Sector category of the Wood
finish and strong performance.
scale is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we are
Awards 2021, Magdalene College
Lathams extensive network and key supplier
delighted to have been involved in it. The fact that
Library in Cambridge is a striking example of
relationships provided a further advantage, as
we were part of the team that was recognised so
sympathetic design, beautiful materials and
they were able to fulfil the specification and meet
highly for that work really is the icing on the cake.”
careful craftmanship.
the demand for such a large order. Jim Greaves,
Exclusive to James Latham, WoodEx® is a
chair of Buildings Judges, Wood Awards 2021
versatile, premium quality, engineered hardwood
arrangement of simple brick volumes with
said: “The Gold Award winner this year, Magdalene
timber product made from either European
timber windows and pitched roofs echoing the
College Library, is a tour de force of architectural
Oak, Sapele or Red Grandis. Combining high
gabled architecture of the existing college. Built
design and achievement. Experienced sequentially
performance with aesthetic appeal, WoodEx®
alongside the Grade I listed Pepys Library, it is the
as they lead one through the building, the
is often used for applications such as windows
first substantial addition to the main site in over
different spaces and forms of the reading rooms
and doors because it provides a better thermal
50 years.
are quite beautiful. The brick, timber and stone
performance than solid wood and is highly stable
have been designed exquisitely with a thorough
and resistant to warping, hugely reducing the
see. Glulam beams support cross laminated
understanding of their intrinsic qualities. A truly
need for maintenance. And, while its appearance
timber (CLT) floor slabs which are supported on
outstanding building.”
is akin to solid timber, it has the advantage that
The library design is based upon an
Inside, the building’s structure is clear to
load-bearing brick piers. The architect’s intention
“We love working hand in hand with our
was for all the key features to appear as an
customers, to help them to find the materials
interwoven set of elements.
that are the right fit for their projects,” added
the visual face and two sides are clear of defects making it ideal for joinery projects. The timber was provided by Italian-
Adrian Roker at Lathams. “It has been amazing to
headquartered hardwood sawmilling and wood
Joinery was commissioned to manufacture all the
watch this project come to life, with one of our
product manufacturer Florian. The family-owned
furniture within the library including bookcases,
highest performing products being used to such
group has operations across Italy, France, Croatia
desks and various other pieces. The specification
an exceptional standard.”
and Hungary and supplies customers in 78
Cambridge-based bespoke joinery firm Wedd
was for solid timber much to the joinery
Simon Lock, commercial director, Wedd
countries. For the Magdelene College Library
company’s delight with Magdalene College
Joinery said: “We have worked with Latham’s
project, Lathams supplied over £300,000 of
wanting to build something for the future
for over 50 years. They will always be one of the
WoodEx® Florian European Oak.
generation. Wedd chose to work with WoodEx®
companies we go to at the early stage of a project
Florian European Oak on the advice of timber
involving solid timber. At the end, it came down to
Timber Construction Magazine
Summer 2022
17
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