Some of the UK’s leading contractors, including Mace, Canary Wharf Contactors, Balfour Beatty, Speller Metcalfe and Willmott Dixon, have delivered projects shortlisted for this year’s annual Wood Awards.
A total of 20 UK buildings have been shortlisted for the awards, which aim to “recognise, encourage and promote outstanding design, craftsmanship and installation using wood”.
The shortlist contains several large-scale timber projects, reflecting the increasing use of the material to construct larger buildings.
BSkyB’s four-storey timber-framed offices in Osterley, west London (above), are described as “one of very few multi-storey timber offices in the world”. The project was built by Mace and is shortlisted in the Commercial and Leisure category.
The 3,000 sq m “Believe in better” building is constructed from a glulam frame with visible grade cross-laminated timber panels providing core stability to the walls and floor.
Also nominated in the Commercial and Leisure category is the Canary Wharf Crossrail station, which was designed by Foster + Partners and built by Canary Wharf Contactors.
The four-storey mixed-use scheme, encompassing the overground element of the new station, is covered by a 300 metre-long timber lattice.
Canary Wharf Crossrail station is covered by a 300-metre long timber lattice
Willmott Dixon’s 6,000 sq m Keynsham Civic Centre has been shortlisted in the Education and Public category. The building, which contains offices and a one-stop shop for Bath and North East Somerset Council, is constructed from a hybrid structure consisting of steel portal frames with a cross-laminated timber frame.
Other shortlisted buildings include Balfour Beatty’s Arcadia Nursery in Edinburgh, Speller Metcalfe’s refurbishment of the grade II* listed Master’s House in Ledbury, Herefordshire, and Bryanston School in Dorset, built by Midas.
Following the shortlisting of Maggie’s Lanarkshire for the RIBA Stirling Prize earlier this month there is more good news for the charity as its Maggie’s Oxford centre was shortlisted in the Education and Public category. The contractor was Leicestershire-based Jacksons Building Contractors.
Architect Michael Morrison, partner at Purcell UK and the returning chairman of judges, said: “With so many excellent projects, the most difficult part of the judging is the shortlisting. However, once the shortlisting is completed the most interesting part of the process begins with every project receiving a visit from at least two of the judges.
“The visits are a real pleasure enabling the judges to see the terrific use that is being made of timber, the high-quality designs and the excellence of craftsmanship which is on display."
Last year’s Gold Award was won by the Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft built by East Sussex-based regional contractor Westridge Construction.
See a full list of the projects shortlisted for the 2015 wood awards here.
Willmott Dixon’s Keynsham Civic Centre has been shortlisted in the Education and Public category
