Exposed glulam beams and CLT floors and roof, with a central oculus skylight that fills the upper level with natural light.

The new sixth form centre at St Bede’s Catholic College in Bristol provides a sustainable and welcoming environment for 300 students.

Delivered within a live school environment, the project called for a carefully managed approach to construction. The timber-framed structure features exposed glulam beams and cross-laminated timber (CLT) floors and roof, with a central oculus skylight that fills the upper level with natural light. A carefully developed sequencing strategy allowed for a very efficient structural solution with only primary glulam beams.

A key technical challenge was the central floor node, left exposed in the final design. Bespoke connection solutions—such as hidden Sherpa connectors, doweled flitch plates, and a single piece CLT stringer demanded precision and planning to achieve both structural integrity and visual clarity.

The completed building demonstrates how careful engineering and sequencing can deliver complex timber structure to meet architectural aspirations.

Photography (c) Speller Metcalfe