Timber Building – Case Study
Visitors Centre
RSPB Conwy Reserve
Cabinco worked closely with the RSPB’s North Wales Management Team to develop plans for a new visitors’ centre at the Conwy Reserve. They required a centre which was welcoming to staff and visitors alike yet fitted in with the Environmental ideals of the RSPB and their Centre Manager. The facility would offer a shop, offices and tea rooms and sit in the stunning backdrop to the Snowdonia Mountains and in front of the Conwy Estuary.
The design of the building was fully approved by Conwy Council’s Building Control Department. Cabinco’s part of the project was to provide the main building structure and this was completed by our skilled team in a record eight weeks. Ground conditions were such that the new building was supported on a grid of ≈330Ø concrete – filled driven steel piles. Each pile was driven approximately 8000 deep through sand/silt. Part of Cabinco’s brief was to minimise the number of piles required; to a final count of 33 piles at just under 4000 between centres. To achieve this, Cabinco built a structural base frame over the pile heads using glue-laminated timber members. Not the standard foundation for our cabins, but a demonstration of the flexibility of our timber buildings to sit on many foundation types.
“This beautiful wooden building fits in perfectly with our environmental ideals”
Alan Davies, Centre Manager, RSPB Conwy
Having installed, connected, levelled, and squared the base frame, Cabinco were then able to commence erection of the building itself which was constructed with Cabinco’s standard MPL 68 system.
Packs of timber components were arranged strategically around the work area to facilitate safe, efficient access. All components are individually numbered, and packaged in the order in which they will be used in the build sequence: which is why careful site planning is essential!!
The end result was a delight to staff, visitors and managers alike and provided an environmentally responsible building which looks good to all who use the facilities.
