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International Timber has
supplied Western Red Cedar cladding for an innovatively designed new leisure
complex in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. Due
for completion in May 2011, the venue will be home to a 25 metre swimming and
training pool, a six-court sports hall and fitness and dance studios.
The new facility has
attracted particular attention for its unusual domed grid shell, designed by London based S and P
Architects for North Lincolnshire Council. International Timber was awarded the contract
to supply the interior roof cladding through timber frame specialist
Prestoplan.
The company was responsible
for assembling the panels used on the roof to ensure they met structural,
acoustic, condensation risk and thermal performance requirements under a design
and supply subcontract to B & K Structures.
Prestoplan supplied 5000m˛ of roof
panels, all of which were unique in shape, derived from B & K Structures’ 3D
model of the domes.
International Timber
delivered the fire treated Western Red Cedar cladding profiles to Prestoplan’s
Quedgeley Plant, where it was fixed to the ceiling side of the roof
panels. Each of the bespoke panels were delivered
pre-finished to the Scunthorpe site, where
they were screw fixed to the Glulam frame of the dome by B & K Structures. The
final layers of insulation, waterproofing and exterior cladding were then
applied.
Ian Loughnane, technical director
for Prestoplan comments: “The leisure complex presented a challenge as the
ceiling had to be able to cope within the humid environment of the swimming
pool while maintaining its appearance; the Western Red Cedar was an ideal
choice due to its durability, stability and aesthetics.
“There were competing issues of
condensation in the panels and acoustic performance, as the panels had to be
designed to absorb sound in order to avoid the dome becoming too noisy. This meant that the cedar slats had to be
placed in such a way as to allow the sound to pass into the body of the
panel. A fire rated glass cloth provided
an aesthetically pleasing backing to the gaps and we worked with specialist
consultants C4ci who helped us to achieve the correct level of insulation to
combat excessive noise while minimising condensation, providing the correct
balance between performance and visual appeal.”
Steve Rogers, product director
at International Timber adds: “This is a visually striking and unusual project
which showcases the beauty and strength of timber. The Western Red Cedar was a perfect choice
for the leisure complex as it is able to cope with the excess moisture in the
swimming pool area and will stay looking good for many years to come.”
International Timber is a leading
supplier of timber solutions, providing a superior range of products in
hardwoods, softwoods, clear softwoods and treated products, as well as standard
and bespoke machined profiles.