A hybrid CLT, glulam and structural steelwork solution — designed and delivered by B&K Structures (BKS) — has contributed to the meticulous redevelopment of Walworth Town Hall in London, bringing a new lease of life to the significantly fire-damaged Grade II listed building.
After being ravaged by fire in 2013, Southwark Council and developer General Projects sought to reinvent Walworth Town Hall for the 21st Century. Taking care to retain, restore and revitalise many of the original 1894 features of the main chamber, the aim was to return the historic town hall to its former glory as one of London’s truly iconic civic buildings.
Following a fiercely contested design competition, Peckham-based architectural firm Feix & Merlin were appointed as project architect, whose vision focused on preserving and honouring the building’s heritage whilst also modernising it for use as a community hub.
With many structural considerations and logistical challenges to overcome, the selection of a hybrid structural timber solution by General Projects proved key to the project’s success. Using timber for the roof combined with some strengthening steelwork for the refurbishment works, the solution was to restore the original elements and further modernise the building with new timber vertical extensions and roofs, a new mezzanine floor, and a new lift core.
As structural timber and hybrid specialists, BKS were approached early in the specification stage to provide insight and guidance. Strengthened by their long-standing supply chain relationships, early collaboration between parties ultimately ensured a seamless project delivery. BKS worked closely with the development team throughout the planning, design and delivery stages, using 3D imaging to overlap point cloud surveys of the existing and new structure, and streamline the redevelopment works.
The new lightweight roof — located on a concrete ring beam cast atop the old brickwork — has opened new spaces and provides flexibility for future use. Using offsite manufacture ensured the structural timber and steel were fabricated to a high degree of precision and a shorter critical path for the construction phase could be guaranteed.
James Brentnall, Project Manager at BKS, reflected: “The connection details required close collaboration during the detailing and design stages which resulted in a flawless onsite process. Our expertise and significant experience in the refurbishment sector brought a number of benefits and the final visual result really showcases the advantages that hybrid timber-steel solutions can bring when modernising existing structures.”
Frederic Schwass, Chief Development Officer at General Projects, commented: “We have several projects on site or in the early stages of planning which are using structural timber; we like to consider structural timber options on every project. It offers a quicker and easier construction method. Not only is it a very sustainable solution, it’s also a key element in helping ensure occupants’ health and well-being, and for Walworth Town Hall the solution meant we were able to ensure we got cost certainty on the structural elements.”
The proposal to use engineered timber for the redevelopment received support across the project team, based on a variety of benefits, including its lightweight nature — which makes it ideal for refurbishment works. However, as a widely respected landmark, and within the context of the previous fire, the local community were also heavily invested in the outcome of Walworth Town Hall. As the developer pushed for an engineered timber solution from the outset, the architect consulted with a heritage architect and conservation officer on the older parts of the building to ensure sensitive material selection.
Julia Feix, Feix & Merlin Architects, said: “Because of inevitable concerns about employing a predominantly structural timber design within a building that had suffered a serious fire, elements such as the new CLT floor had to be fire-proofed and assessed and we worked with a Swiss specialist to prove to the London Fire Brigade that a structural timber solution was safe and operational.”
The redevelopment of Walworth Town Hall has delivered a modern re-interpretation of the space, opening it up for the local community once more while also protecting its historic beauty. Using CLT allowed for the integration of sustainable materials into the listed building without compromising its architectural integrity, demonstrating a blend of heritage preservation and contemporary environmental consciousness. Significantly, the decision to utilise engineered timber to restore Walworth Town Hall — a building previously ravaged by fire — highlights the project team’s strong understanding of, and confidence in, the benefits of timber.
For more information about BKS please visit: www.bkstructures.co.uk
