School to benefit from B & K Structures hybrid frame

A new £6m primary school in Kidderminster is set to benefit from B & K Structures’ unique vision for timber and steel hybrid construction.

Birchen Coppice Primary School marks the continued expansion of B & K Structures into the education sector and will feature 125 tonnes of steel integrated with 111 cubic m of glulam timber. The new school has been designed by Worcestershire County Council Property Services’ in-house architects and will provide a wide range of community facilities, such as a café, rentable office and studio spaces.

Offering sustainable solutions at almost every turn the new school will be independently assessed under the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and will primarily be heated using a zero carbon biomass boiler.

B & K Structures has showcased the benefits of timber and steel hybrid structures on a multitude of education sector projects over the past 18 months and it is an area they are keen to embrace even further over the coming years, as business development manager Alan Wildsmith explains: “Our move into the education sector has already proven to be highly beneficial and is testament to the diversity within our ranks, that we have moved into it almost effortlessly.

“As one of the only firms in the UK able to offer a complete package of expertise in both steel and timber design, engineering, supply and installation we feel confident that the finished project will have a structure to match its lofty ambitions, to provide an environment for young people to flourish.”

“Government is demanding more sustainable solutions for public buildings and we feel we are perfectly poised to offer this. The sustainability of engineered timber structures makes them perfect for schools, as well as buildings in the health, retail, commercial and leisure sectors. These are all areas we will be looking to expand into further over the next few years.”



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