PEFC-sponsored industry award goes to Scottish visitor centre

3 December 2013 Sustainable construction

The first ever Timber in Construction Magazine awards, held on 21 November at The Point, Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, UK, celebrated some of the finest construction projects completed recently that used timber to its fullest potential.

PEFC International, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) joint-sponsored the Commercial Project of the Year Award, which saw Abbotsford Visitor Reception Building run out the clear category winner.

Alun Watkins, who heads up PEFC in the UK, presented the Award to Emma Rose of project architects LDN Architects, Edinburgh. “LDN were delighted to accept the award for Commercial Project of the Year at the Timber in Construction Awards 2013,” said Emma. “This award recognizes LDN’s long term commitment to the use of timber as a sustainable and innovative building material.”

Abbotsford is the world-famous home that Sir Walter Scott created for himself in the Scottish Borders. The Visitor Reception Building provides much-needed visitor and interpretation facilities. Conceived as a modern version of a gate lodge, it is constructed almost wholly in timber with a calm contemporary appearance, in contrast with Sir Walter’s highly decorated Scottish baronial masterpiece.

The new two-storey building comprises a reinforced concrete basement and specialist structural timber frame with timber weatherboard cladding and curtain walling to external walls with a Sedum green roof system. Internal finishes include high quality oak linings to walls and ceilings and bespoke reception counters.

The £3 million building also includes a range of sustainable features including a Ground Source Heat Pump, underfloor heating and rainwater harvesting system, and has been designed to achieve a Very Good BREEAM Rating.

“The shortlisted projects were all fantastic but the judges chose the Abbotsford Visitor Reception Building as the best in class,” added Alun. “PEFC, SFI and MTC were happy to sponsor the Commercial Project of the Year Award and help Timber in Construction celebrate ten years of publishing. The interior at Abbotsford is bright and spacious and shows what a fantastic impact timber can have.”

Other nominees in the Commercial Project of the Year included: The Shed by Haworth Tompkins – a temporary venue for the National Theatre on London’s South Bank. Its simple form houses a 225-seat auditorium made of raw steel and plywood; BSW’s re-development of its Fort William sawmill, that set out to create the country’s largest and most efficient supermill with the entire building a celebration of British timber products; and the New Generation Youth Facility, Lewisham, London which exploited the full potential of cross laminated timber (CLT) engineering opportunities and technology.