Thermowood cladding from John Brash at University

Thermowood cladding from John Brash has been specified for University College Plymouth due of its enhanced durability and to minimise the buildings' carbon footprint.

A new college sports building at University College Plymouth St Mark and St John has been given an environmentally-friendly and durable facade, thanks to John Brash.

The company supplied timber battens and Thermowood cladding for the sports centre at the university's St Mark and St John, Marjon campus.

John Brash worked closely with architects Roberts Limbrick, which specified the Thermowood cladding used on the new facility.

The samples given to the architects by John Brash were provided by Bristol-based MH Massey Roofing, who installed the cladding on the new building.

Thermowood from John Brash is manufactured from Finnish grown European Redwood and is renowned for its durability and stability.

During the manufacturing process it is heated to temperatures in excess of 200C, which reduces sap and resin levels and produces a timber that will last up to five times longer than untreated boards.

The heat treatment also limits the timber's ability to absorb or loose moisture, reducing the potential for swelling, shrinkage or distortion of the boards as well as enabling it to retain its original colour for longer.

The Thermowood cladding used at University College Plymouth St Mark and St John will help improve the building's energy efficiency, too, as the thermal conductivity of timber is 12 times lower than concrete and 400 times lower than steel.

Using wood instead of other building materials also saves on average 0.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide per cubic metre.

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