Client: Camden Local Education Authority
Architects: Gollifer Langston Architects
Main contractors: DF Keane
Structural engineers: Michael Hadi Associates
Solid timber structure: Eurban

• Solid timber structure – timber laminated wall and roof panels
• Offsite prefabrication
• High insulation levels

A fast-track project to provide a new 26-place nursery building on an existing school site. The nursery was designed as a prototype, using offsite prefabricated timber construction to minimise site work and enable the building to be erected during the school summer holiday period. A simple rectangular form with a timber glazed curtain walling screen at each end and intermittent full height glazed openings is tailored to the constraints of a narrow linear site. 'Eternit' sheeting is used as rain screen cladding to a highly insulated external envelope. The timber construction is revealed internally with exposed walls and ceilings of laminated timber. The superstructure was fabricated in Germany and erected by crane onto prepared foundations in 3 days. The nursery is 24m long by 6m wide. Floor to ceiling height is 2.6m and the height of the external elevation is 3.6m, including a parapet. Floor area is 136m2.