Due for completion in May 2011, the venue will be home to a 25 metre swimming and training pool, a six-court sports hall and fitness and dance studios.
The new facility has attracted particular attention for its unusual domed grid shell, designed by London based S and P Architects for North Lincolnshire Council. International Timber was awarded thecontract to supply the interior roof cladding through timber frame specialist Prestoplan. The company was responsible for assembling the panels used on the roof to ensure they met structural, acoustic, condensation risk and thermal performance requirements under a design and supply subcontract to B & K Structures.
Prestoplan supplied 5000m² of roof panels, all of which were unique in shape, derived from B & K Structures’ 3D model of the domes. International Timber delivered the fire treated Western Red Cedar cladding profiles to Prestoplan’s Quedgeley Plant, where it was fixed to the ceiling side of the roof panels. Each of the bespoke panels were delivered pre-finished to the Scunthorpe site, where they were screw fixed to the Glulam frame of the dome by B & K Structures. The final layers of insulation, waterproofing and exterior cladding were then applied.
Ian Loughnane, technical director for Prestoplan comments: “The leisure complex presented a challenge as the ceiling had to be able to cope within the humid environment of the swimming pool while maintaining its appearance; the Western Red Cedar was an ideal choice due to its durability, stability and aesthetics.
“There were competing issues of condensation in the panels and acoustic performance, as the panels had to be designed to absorb sound in order to avoid the dome becoming too noisy. This meant that the cedar slats had to be placed in such a way as to allow the sound to pass into the body of the panel. A fire rated glass cloth provided an aesthetically pleasing backing to the gaps and we worked with specialist consultants C4ci who helped us to achieve the correct level of insulation to combat excessive noise while minimising condensation, providing the correct balance between performance and visual appeal.”
Steve Rogers, product director at International Timber adds: “This is a visually striking and unusual project which showcases the beauty and strength of timber. The Western Red Cedar was a perfect choice for the leisure complex as it is able to cope with the excess moisture in the swimming pool area and will stay looking good for many years to come.”
International Timber is a leading supplier of timber solutions, providing a superior range of products in hardwoods, softwoods, clear softwoods and treated products, as well as standard and bespoke machined profiles.
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