Larch cladding used to create eco-friendly Centre of Disability Studies
March 30, 2010
The green credentials of Disability Essex have been boosted by use of BSW Timber’s innovative British larch cladding in the construction of the new Centre of Disability Studies in Rochford.
The build was completed to passivhaus specification in under a year and will be used to provide support to over a hundred disability clubs throughout Essex as well as helping individuals with lifestyle and employment issues.
The construction company, Duncan Cameron & Hutchinson, chose BSW Timber’s larch cladding, which was sourced through Bryceland TTS and machined at Vincent Timber, to ensure the centre demonstrated sustainability and high performance from the inside out.
The building was partially larch clad over a timber frame on blockwork using a design, based on the German passivhaus standards, which has been used on only four other buildings in the UK so far. The building uses ground source heat pumps in place of a traditional boiler and relies on low air leakage and 400mm insulated timber I-Beam roof to retain heat.
Clive Addison from Duncan Cameron & Hutchinson was site manager for the project. He said: “Larch was chosen for its sustainability credentials, high quality and UK provenance. It guarantees that the Centre will be environmentally and sustainably sound, and the end result is visually stunning.”
Alan Wheat, director of sales and marketing at BSW Timber, commented: "The appeal of larch cladding is broad; it’s versatile, attractive and the raw materials are grown in the UK. We want people to recognise that quality British larch is an ideal option for a wide array of purposes.
"As a fully sustainable and durable timber, which is FSC certified, larch cladding products come with the assurance that they will be long lasting and maintain their striking look in years to come.”