Projects

How to build a world class low carbon office which maximises the opportunity offered by each structural material used

Keynsham Civic Centre, Keynsham, Somerset

A new Civic Centre and council offices designed in hybrid CLT / Glulam / Steel / Concrete. BCO winner for Corporate Workplace and the overall Best of the Best award.

Architect: AHR Architects

For: Bath & North East Somerset Council

This project consolidated considerable learning in the design of CLT structures and Hybrid forms. The R&D undertaken in this project led directly to the structural forms now found on our Orsman Road and University of Kent projects.

This sustainable form of construction combines the low carbon effectiveness of CLT with the high thermal mass of the exposed concrete, alternating each across each floor plate. The structural solution enables the maximum use of prefabrication, allowing construction time on site to be minimised.

Energy efficiency was built-in to the design from the outset, which has enabled the building to achieve the top ‘A’ rating under the Government’s Energy Performance Certification scheme. The project also features one of the largest photovoltaic installations on a UK public sector building which will provide 55% of the total annual electrical needs of the Council’s office building.

Awards
Civic Trust Architecture Awards 2016 Highly Commended
Royal Institute of British Architects 2015 Workplace & Innovation Award
British Council of Offices Awards 2015 Best of the Best
British Council of Offices Awards 2015 Corporate Workplace
British Construction Industry Awards 2015 Best of the Best
British Construction Industry Awards 015 Corporate Workplace