Delamere Forest Visitor Centre is a new build arts and cultural space which will be the gateway to Delamere Forest in Cheshire and forms a key component of the larger £9m redevelopment of the forest facilities. The single storey Visitor Centre contains a large café area and flexible educational and office spaces across 1000m2. Civic Engineers have undertaken the detailed design of the superstructure frame in collaboration with hybrid structures specialist B&K Structures developing the design from concept through RIBA Stages 4. As part of this scope, we have completed full superstructure design including connection detailing and design coordination.

The structural frame comprises CLT roof panels typically supported on glulam downstand beams spanning between internal columns and perimeter CLT walls, In the café area the generous vertical space is opened up with the design of long span trusses spanning across between the perimeter walls with a tapered profile matching the variable pitch of the roof to maximise the experience for the user. As per client and Architect’s aspirations, the main structure and the bolts in each interface are fully exposed.  Every single connection honestly shows the structural requirements, allowing the recognition of the function of each elements.

The use of engineered glulam timber and CLT superstructure elements achieve key ambitions for the client and contractor, maximising the sustainability of construction and enhanced speed and accuracy of erection through off-site construction techniques.

Construction of the Visitor Centre commenced in November 2019.  The erection of the structural frame was fully completed by the end of January 2020.  A careful design coordination phase prior to the start of fabrication made site assembly progress without issue.