Supplying Timber Issue 9 0 - Autumn 2025 - Flipbook - Page 53
———— CASE STUDY ————
Why Glulam?
Building in busy places
The projects both had practical
challenges, because building
train stations isn’t like building
houses: logistics are everything.
For both stations, we had to
apply 昀椀re retardant treatment
(Nord Treat NT Deco) to all the
timber, which itself needs very
controlled conditions.
Timing was also critical. At
Colindale, all the heavy lifting
had to happen between 1:30am
and 4:30am to minimise noise
and disruption – and this is still
ongoing work.
Whether you call that very
early morning or very late
night, the fact is you need
precision and planning when
you absolutely cannot a昀昀ord to
wake the neighbours. It’s the
only way to work around live
transport infrastructure.
There was also a zero tolerance
for error. The Surrey Quays
lattice roof uses traditional
tenon and mortise joints with
zero tolerance – there’s no room
for "we’ll adjust it on site".
Instead, we dry-昀椀tted the
entire lattice structure at our
factory before delivery. We had
a 52-hour non-stop window for
the installation of a job that
we would normally take two
weeks to complete, to coincide
with the station and line being
closed. Everything had to 昀椀t
perfectly.
Timber craftsmanship
The standout feature at
Colindale has to be the bespoke
bullnose edge detail we created
for three sides of the roof. This
solid timber piece is curved in
all three planes and required
hand-carved gutter details.
SUPPLYING TIMBER
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Getting the mitred corners
to align during installation
was genuinely challenging
– it represents some of the
昀椀nest contemporary timber
craftsmanship we’ve done.
We also installed moisture
sensors throughout both
projects, because looking
after timber properly means
monitoring it properly. These
aren’t “昀椀t and forget” structures
– they’re investments that need
the right care and attention.
Both these projects show
what’s possible when you look
beyond the obvious solutions.
Yes, steel and concrete might
have been quicker and cheaper
upfront. However, when
you factor in the passenger
experience, environmental
impact, and the long-term
pride these stations will bring
to their communities, choosing
timber made perfect sense,
and we’re seeing more and
more infrastructure projects
recognising this.
Transport for London’s
commitment to its net-zero
targets aligns perfectly with
what timber construction o昀昀ers
– genuine sustainability without
compromising on performance
or aesthetics.
www.bucklandtimber.co.uk
AUTUMN 2025
↑
Image: Glulam takes
pride of place at
Surrey Quays station.
USING TIMBER
This is a question we get
asked a lot: “Why go to all this
trouble when steel and concrete
would be quicker?” It’s a good
question, and the answer says
everything about what we’re
about at Buckland Timber.
First, there’s the passenger
experience. When you’re rushing
to catch a train, wouldn’t you
rather be in a space that feels
warm and welcoming, rather
than cold and industrial?
Timber creates this incredible
sense of openness and space
that makes traveling a nicer
experience.
Then there’s the sustainability
angle. In total, across both
projects, we installed 110m³
of CLT and 120m³ of glulam,
which is approximately 126
tonnes of timber. The embodied
carbon footprint? 63.25 tonnes.
To put that in perspective, it’s
equivalent to taking 240 cars o昀昀
the road each year.
But, honestly, we also think
these stations will make people
proud of where they live. Surrey
Quays and Colindale are both
growing areas where thousands
of new homes are being built.
These stations will be many
people’s 昀椀rst impression of
their local transport network
– shouldn’t that be something
special?
