B & K Structures - Sky Control Centre

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Project Details

Project - Sky Control Centre
Sector - Education
Architect - B & K Structures  

Technology - Hybrid
 
Project Overview

By exploiting our in-depth industry knowledge and extensive experience, B & K Structures’ innovative offsite manufactured structural timber systems have been developed to meet the future demands of projects in the fast-moving construction sector. 

The Sky Campus, located in Osterley, West London – has been undergoing extensive redevelopment to consolidate the company’s operations. The second phase of the development, the Sky Control Centre - is a mixed-use scheme with a combined total of circa 41,000m² - encompassing office space, studios and production facilities together with research and development zones.

B & K Structures supplied and installed over 7,500 linear metres of glulam beams and just under 16,000m2 of large timber roof cassettes with pre-installed skylights and gutters for the Sky Control Centre building - the largest timber roof cassette project in the UK.

Offsite manufacture maximised the overall efficiency of the project. Errors were virtually eliminated due to quality control processes, this kept the project on schedule – avoiding costly delays. Detailed research and development positively contributed to building physics - ensuring actual onsite performance met design expectations.

The Sky Campus, located in Osterley, West London – has been undergoing an extensive redevelopment to consolidate the company’s operations and create up to 12,000 jobs within the Hounslow borough.

The second phase of the development, the Sky Control Centre - is a mixed-use scheme with a combined total of circa 41,000m² - encompassing office space, studios and production facilities together with research and development zones. The site is also home to an energy centre, servicing facilities, plant and equipment, as well as bicycle parking.

B & K Structures supplied and installed over 7,500 linear metres of glulam beams and just under 16,000m2 of large timber roof cassettes. The Sky Control Centre building is the largest timber roof cassette project in the UK.

Manufacture offsite in factory controlled conditions maximised the overall efficiency of the roof system and virtually eliminated errors due to quality control processes, this kept the project on schedule – avoiding costly delays. Detailed research and development positively contributed to building physics - ensuring actual onsite performance met design expectations.

Precision factory manufacturing also notably reduced onsite waste; avoiding expensive disposal costs and any excess materials were recycled in line with Sky’s sustainability strategy. The prefabricated build combined with the simple erection process, delivered the additional advantage of fewer delays from inclement weather.

The timber cassettes were manufactured and assembled offsite in controlled factory conditions. This improved the health and safety aspects of the build, enabling work to be done at ground level rather than at height, which is not only safer but permits a higher level of accuracy.

The rapid rate of installation proved beneficial to this project with up to 600m2 of timber cassettes erected per day - without compromising on quality or efficiency. The cassettes had the sky lights, gutters and felt pre-installed offsite to enhance the build programme.

Structural glulam purlins spanning up to 21m were fitted to steel connections to accommodate the tolerances, along with 3m wide dummy purlins which were added in-between using pre-cut slots to improve the aesthetics and create an interesting structural form when viewed from below.