Woodspan: Skookum provides engineered outcomes, ongoing support and service to the Wood, Biofuel and Bulk Handling sectors. They were looking to build a new office building for the Christchurch facility that spoke to the sustainability of the industry they serve.

The design team decided that using Woodspan exposed PLT roof and glulam beams, PLT floor system, Woodspan H3.2 exterior glulam columns and Woodspan MTStair was the perfect option.

The aim was to provide biophilic timber elements to complement the dark steel cladding on the exterior. Expressing the timber inside by using visual grade glulam beams and PLT ceilings creates a warm and inviting interior that invites the outside in.

PLT and Glulam products are proving to be ideal solutions for low-carbon designs, demonstrating that it is possible to achieve both eco-friendly and high-performing buildings without the usual compromises and allowed for an upfront carbon saving in this case, of 17,155 kgCO2eq.

Offsite Design facilitated the comprehensive fabrication model of the project and worked alongside the designers to optimise for efficient manufacture and true build-ability. This meant that Woodspan OSM beams, panels and stairs went together seamlessly when it came to assembly.

Because Woodspan timber is laminated in the direction of the span and the grain, the resulting visual finish on panels and stairs as well as beams is unparalleled in terms of mass timber and is the natural choice for architects wanting a superior finish for exposed timber.

To learn more about Woodspan’s mass timber solutions click here.