Built to be affordable to rent, operate and maintain, these workshops answer GEB\u2019s brief to provide flexible, practical and inspirational workspace. Its 14 units between 55m2<\/sup> and 110m2<\/sup> offer choice and growth within the building and employment space for 60 people, the equivalent of 428 employees per hectare, compared with the London industrial average of 69 per hectare.<\/p>\n The dynamic cantilevered form on a minimal footprint creates a presence on the adjoining arterial road and solar shading to the west.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is a cross-laminated timber structure, with limited steel, polycarbonate, glass and rubber introduced where required for functional purposes. Each building element is designed to be as efficient as possible \u2013 a legible, direct design without excess. \u00a0<\/span> \u00a0<\/span> Start on site <\/b>March 2021 \u00a0<\/span> The selection of an engineered timber superstructure was inspired by our original stacked box concept. This early decision facilitated everything that followed, inspired the lightweight cladding and provided the predominantly pre-finished CLT interiors.<\/span><\/p>\n The superstructure is also a key driver of the project\u2019s embodied carbon footprint (around 21 per cent lower upfront embodied carbon than LETI\u2019s 2030 Design Target of 350 kgCO<\/span>2<\/sub><\/span>\/m2<\/sup>).\u00a0 <\/span>In addition, the CLT allowed a faster construction process, reduced wastage and, when combined with the lightweight, panelised cladding, the result is an exceptionally airtight building which reduces energy demand for tenants. \u00a0<\/span> Our approach to specification for WorkStack centered on the need for robust, long-lasting and cost-effective materials. Given the immediate context of the big shed typology of the surrounding retail parks, we looked towards system-based, high-performance, utilitarian products externally and natural, robust materials internally.<\/span><\/p>\n The fa\u00e7ade is primarily composed of two materials: Coverworld Big 6 sinusoidal cladding, which is lifted through stainless steel channels at floor levels, adding contrast and a dynamic play of light across the fa\u00e7ade. This is visually contrasted with Rodeca polycarbonate to the western fa\u00e7ade, which is used as both cladding and translucent panel, delivering diffused light to the interior. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Internally, the CLT superstructure is left exposed as solid walls and soffits, providing a ready canvas for a variety of uses. The exposed CLT is complemented by a minimal palette of internal finishes: birch plywood lining, painted blockwork walls to the ground floor and blue rubber stud flooring throughout.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Steelwork is left in its galvanised state while the circulation routes are celebrated by bold-painted timber doorsets in vibrant red and orange. CLT Metal cladding Stainless steel trim<\/b> Polycarbonate walling and cladding Windows Rubber floor tiles<\/b>
\n<\/span>Alex de Rijke, director, dRMM<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/13151426\/C3_DWGS_A.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/13150718\/C3_DWGS-b.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\nProject data<\/b><\/h3>\n
\nCompletion <\/b>November 2022
\nGross internal floor area <\/b>1,569m\u00b2
\nConstruction cost <\/b>\u00a34 million
\nArchitect <\/b>dRMM
\nClient <\/b>Greenwich Enterprise Board
\nStructural engineer <\/b>ARUP with changebuilding
\nM&E consultant <\/b>Webb Yates
\nQuantity surveyor <\/b>CHP
\nPrincipal designer<\/b> Perrett Consulting
\nApproved building inspector <\/b>London Building Control
\nMain contractor <\/b>F Parkinson
\nFire engineer<\/b> ARUP
\nCAD software used <\/b>Vectorworks
\nAnnual CO<\/b>2<\/sub><\/b><\/span> emissions <\/b>80 kgCO2<\/sub><\/span>e\/m\u00b2
\n<\/sup>Predicted design life<\/b> 60 years
\nEmbodied\/whole-life carbon <\/b>Upfront embodied carbon: 271 kgCO2<\/sub><\/span>e\/m\u00b2, Embodied carbon: 413 kgCO2<\/sub><\/span>e\/m\u00b2, Whole-life carbon: 493 kgCO2<\/sub><\/span>e\/m\u00b2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/13145726\/C3_DWGS2-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\nArchitect\u2019s choices<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n<\/span>Steve Wallis, associate director, dRMM<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/13145654\/C3_DWGS3-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\nSpecification<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n<\/span><\/span>Steve Wallis, associate director, dRMM<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nSelected products<\/h3>\n
\n<\/b>Stora Enso and Hasslacher Norica Timber
\nEuropean spruce
\nAbove-ground structure
\nstoraenso.com<\/em><\/a>, hasslacher.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Coverworld UK
\nCover 6, UK Profile. 0.7mm-thick plastisol-coated steel. Anthracite finish (RAL7016)
\nPrimary fa\u00e7ade cladding
\ncoverworld.co.uk<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/i>0.9mm brushed stainless steel
\nFeature channel
\nPrimary fa\u00e7ade\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Rodeca
\nRodeca PC 2550-10 Decocolour
\nIn Kristall\/Opal finish
\nFa\u00e7ades: translucent walling and opaque cladding
\nrodeca.co.uk<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Alutech
\nALT F50 PPC aluminium-framed window and curtain wall systems. RAL 9007 and
\nRAL 7016 finishes
\nWindows
\nalutech-group.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/i>Nora Flooring Systems
\nNorament 926 tiles, 4mm-thick, Blue 3019
\nFloors
\nnora.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n