Last year HLM Architects walked away with first place in the highly coveted Architect of the Year and Education Project of the Year awards at our annual Structural Timber Awards celebration of the best of building with timber.
The project in question was the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, which judges commented had been delivered with “exceptionally high environmental credentials”.
How were its architects able to achieve this astonishing result with the help of crucial suppliers such as Stora Enso, and specialist timber sub-contractor B&K Structures? Interview with Adam McAvoy, Associate at HLM Architects, will give us insights on the project.
Could you start off by telling us a little more about your project, and some of the techniques or approaches you used that contributed to the final design?
“The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) is an industry-led sustainable hub located at the heart of the new Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) where industry, academia and the public sector work together to transform skills, productivity, and innovation.
“The driving goal for NMIS was to empower collaboration which meant our approach focused heavily on making it a warm and welcoming place that draws people in. To do that we needed to carefully consider the materials for each element of the structure to ensure we maximised this appeal.”
Timber’s natural properties, such as its texture and warmth, contribute to creating more inviting and healthful environments. What ways have you found that using mass timber enhances the wellbeing of occupants, and what strategies did you employ to integrate biophilic design?
“We can see the natural properties of mass timber helping to enhance the internal environment at NMIS in several ways. The use of timber as part of the roof structure in the main forum space and office environment contributes to much higher-performing acoustics than if we were to use concrete or steel – a critical attribute within a large open plan space designed to encourage collaboration of its users.
“When it comes to cutting CO2 and carbon It met our requirements of benefitting the well-being of, not only the occupants, but society in a more holistic sense.
“Mass timber slots in seamlessly with our overarching biophilic design, that encompasses green living walls and internal tree planting, to give the environment a pleasing natural look for the occupants. The back-to-nature approach is done with more than beauty in mind, because bringing the outside in has been proven to improve indoor air quality and decrease blood pressure and stress, enriching the experience. Each of these details complements another to create an overall warm and inviting atmosphere.”
Mass timber has a high load capacity and durability, which affords it multiple design advantages. Reflecting on your winning project, can you tell us how the Sylva™ by Stora Enso range of prefabricated wood-based products for low-carbon buildings enabled specific design decisions that you are particularly proud of, and why do they stand out to you as significant achievements?
“The focus on innovation and collaboration for the NMIS project has been carried through all aspects of the design decisions, from the primary structure and roof through to meeting pods and internal finishes. If we focus on the roof of the building as an example, its ambitious design is only possible using Stora Enso’s Sylva CLT Roofs elements to create a single span structure that holds multiple angled lights and supports a green roof, which requires impressive load capacity and a high level of durability.
“We’ve also found CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) to have characteristics well-suited to specific structures within the building, such as the teaching pod in the Digital Factory, which forms part of the Manufacturing Skills Academy offering – essentially these are timber boxes made from industrial CLT – which juxtapose well with the typical factory environment and softens the space for its users. These two applications are further evidence of the flexibility and the range of CLT, which hints at some of the kind of innovative applications we may be able to use the material for in future.”
Reflecting on the rewarding experience of contributing to the project, Alex Brock, Pre-Construction Manager at B&K Structures says “It was a pleasure to be involved in such a forward-thinking project, alongside HLM and Stora Enso. The complex connections required to deliver the hybrid glulam, CLT and steel superstructure ultimately led to a first-class delivery on site, and a striking final result that truly puts timber on show.
Designed to promote collaborative working, NMIS is also testament to outstanding collaboration across the project team. Drawing on our nearly 20 years of timber expertise, B&K Structures worked closely with all parties throughout the design, manufacture and installation phases, to deliver the scheme on time and within budget, to an exceptional standard.
Born from such an innovative design, we look forward to seeing the resulting innovation this ground-breaking education facility will inspire.”
The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland project at Stora Enso reference library: https://references.buildingsolutions.storaenso.com/en/projects/education/uk/nmis
Header image courtesy of David Barbour Photography
