Toby Crayden,
Director (Civils Division)
A Director of MLM and leader of MLM's Ashford office, Toby is a civil engineer with over 20 years experience in all aspects of roads and drainage...
The Forest Centre, Upminster, Essex
- Client: Thames Chase
- Architect: Laurie Wood Architects
- Market Sector: Leisure
- Services: Structural Engineering
The Forest centre has been developed to let local people living in East London and South West Essex know of this transformation and shows visitors how and why the Forest is being created and demonstrates its many benefits.
The new visitors centre shows how timber can be used in a modern and innovative way, to provide a structure and envelope appropriate to the functions of the new building. The building employs an ‘A-frame’ structure using glue laminated rafters and structural softwood decking, providing a very efficient structural form which was quick to assemble on site. The timber structure is exposed and on view inside the building to provide an appropriate backcloth to the interpretive displays that feature wood and the community forest.
Equally important, the design respects and complements the original tapestry of adjoining buildings, which consists of mediaeval listed barns. These have been carefully restored as part of this project.
Key Features:
- ‘A-frame’ structural form.
- Glue laminated rafters with structural softwood decking.
- Roof duct in cedar shingles.
- External cedar boarding to gable ends.
Other Leisure Projects: | view all
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Accordia Development
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