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Building Regulations and Accreditation
News Release from: Forestry Commission
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 30 January 2007
New office is green gem of timber
construction
One of the largest new timber buildings in the UK is now the home of Forestry Commission Scotland's Inverness District office.
One of the largest new timber buildings in the UK is now the home of Forestry Commission Scotland's Inverness District office From the foundations upwards this brand new, 630 sq metre, energy efficient office has been carefully designed and constructed using locally grown, certificated timber, to ensure it is one of the best examples of quality, sustainable construction there is in the country today
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 23 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Officially opened by Calum MacDonald, Chairman of Forestry Commission Scotland's National Committee, the new office boasts a wealth of environmental credentials, which also make it one of the greenest commercial buildings in the country.
The new office is located at Smithton, on the outskirts of Inverness, adjacent to the site where the previous office was situated, and on land that was once a sawmill.
It will be the daily work place for the 29 Inverness Forest District staff and has additional workspace for visiting Commission staff.
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Britain's Forest Area Grows
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The new building, designed by Inverness based HRI architects in association with Fife practice Hurd Rolland, was commissioned as an outstanding example of what can be achieved by using Scottish grown and certified timber.
In keeping with the principles of sustainable forest management, the building is also designed to be environmentally sustainable and energy efficient.
The showcase building oozes with quality.
Every component of the building's structure and fabric is green-book A rated.
The vast majority of the certificated timber used during construction was sourced from the Commission's own forests and private estates in the Inverness area.
Douglas Fir, used for the main structure of the building, came from Port Clair on the side of Loch Ness, near Fort Augustus.
The dark exterior cladding, made of Scots Pine, is from Culbin Forest, Nairn.
Larch, also used for exterior cladding, handrails and fabric, was grown at Plodda, near Cannich and other Larch from Newtonmore, was milled by John Russell.
Ash from Elgin has been used for skirting boards and architrave round the interior doors.
Oak, from Dochfour Estate beside Loch Ness has been used for the stairs and floor.
Sitka Spruce and Scots Pine from local forests has been used for the OSB produced by Norbord at Morayhill.
Creative design of the building ensures that there are many integral functions which help minimise the building's energy requirements.
Light sensors detect when there is need for interior lighting in the office and when it should be switched off, depending on outside light conditions and human activity inside.
Sensor controlled 'windcatchers' on the roof cleverly help regulate the temperature of the building and minimise any heat requirements.
When heating is required it is provided using a 'carbon neutral' woodfuel boiler.
In addition, a 6000 litre underground storage tank will take rainwater from the roof of the building and return it to the toilet cisterns in order to prevent undue water waste.
Even before visitors or staff enter the building, the environmental 'greenness' of the building can be sensed.
The car park kerbing is sawn locally grown Larch and the stone paving is Caithness Flag avoiding the use of more traditional concrete.
The parking bays allow free draining, natural filtration reducing any impact on the public drainage system.
Staggered screening in the form of wood blocks, flank the footpath approach to the building.
The blocks of Douglas Fir, Ash, Oak, Elm and Larch, similarly come from local forests and reflect the wide variety of wood currently growing and available for construction use in the country.
On opening the building, Calum MacDonald, Forestry Commissioner and Chairman of the Forestry Commission Scotland National Committee, said; "Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing the world today".
"Timber is an environmentally friendly and versatile building material".
"It is renewable and has a very small carbon footprint".
"I am delighted to be opening this new office which is a showcase of how home-grown timber from sustainable sources and creative design can be used to construct an environmentally friendly, energy efficient building, which has a low carbon impact".
""This a magnificent example of what can be achieved".
"I hope it will inspire and encourage the timber and building industries to think even more positively about the use of timber for construction and provide a welcomed catalyst for other similar projects to follow.".
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