NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY’S NEW BUILDING: A MASTERCLASS IN ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE

The new Stephenson Building at Newcastle University is a landmark education redevelopment. Meticulously planned and executed, it aims to deliver a learning environment that will inspire current and future generations to study and research life sciences. At the heart of the building’s sustainable design is an exposed hybrid steel and engineered timber structure, which proudly expresses the building’s engineering throughout. B&K Structures (BKS), along with their supply chain, brought 50 years of timber and steel expertise to make the architect’s vision a reality.

Destined to become a world class hub for engineering excellence and reflecting Newcastle-upon-Tyne’s importance to the regeneration of the North, the Stephenson Building is a £70 million redevelopment of an existing teaching building, originally opened in 1951 by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

For the innovative and highly sustainable redevelopment, Newcastle University selected an expert project team including NORR Architects and Bowmer + Kirkland as main contractor. BKS were awarded the contract to design, manufacture and erect the structural frame, which features a complex roof structure of glulam beams and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), as well as a composite metal decking towards the rear of the building. Multiple roof lights and a large expanse of roof glazing brings light into the interior and the atrium roof is supported by Y-branched steel columns.

To deliver the architect’s vision, BKS called upon their structural timber supply chain partners Stora Enso and Hasslacher to manufacture the CLT and glulam components, and specialist timber engineer Engenuiti to support the intricate connection design. The architectural intent was to turn the original building ‘inside out’ by transforming the existing traditional cellular academic building into a collaborative facility. Exposing the building’s structure, services and spaces was a deliberate visual choice to create an uplifting environment that would proudly express the building’s engineering excellence.

Rob McGann, Project Manager at BKS commented: “The Stephenson Building presented another welcomed opportunity to work with our long-term supply chain partners. These relationships ensure we benefit from established working procedures, which ultimately helped to achieve the highest standards of accuracy required for this project.”

These strong supply chain relationships were crucial given the project challenges, including the cranked shape of the building and the diagonal arrangement of the glulam elements, with four metre wide overhang. The combined use of steel and glulam beams, as well as CLT and composite metal decking, required a project team with strong hybrid construction experience across a multitude of projects – here, BKS’ 50 years of construction experience with steel and timber proved invaluable. For example, where the diagonally arranged beams cross each other in the cantilever, complex moment connections had to be incorporated to provide continuity to the interrupted members.

In addition to the benefits hybrid construction brought to the build, the specification of timber also delivered several sustainability benefits. Primarily manufactured from Norway Spruce, with full PEFC chain of custody, the 418.4m³ of CLT panels and 315.1m³ of glulam beams are able to sequester 548.4 tonnes of CO2^e, while all the timber used on the project will have been regrown in just 101 seconds contributing to the circular economy.

The project also undoubtedly benefitted from BKS providing both the engineered timber and structural steelwork elements of the hybrid structure due to the complexity of build sequence and site constraints. This, combined with early engagement, helped to ensure the seamless transitions between the two materials could be defined prior to installation - crucial to the overall success of the building.

Now open, the building offers 198,000sq. ft. of new and refurbished facilities – from inclusive education spaces to multi-purpose teaching laboratories – which enables Newcastle University to nurture cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovative partnerships. Furthermore, timber’s biophilic and sustainability benefits fully match the education sector’s growing environmental focus.

“The Stephenson Building is part of Newcastle University’s investment in quality facilities that deliver an outstanding student experience and an excellent environment for our students’ learning, teaching and research,” concluded Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor, Newcastle University. “The project also embodies our commitment to sustainability and enables new, exciting and diverse sustainability-driven curriculum within engineering and with other disciplines."

For further information on this and other exemplar projects visit: www.bkstructures.co.uk