Timber iQ August - September 2020 // Issue: 50 August - September 2020 | Page 27

INTERNATIONAL PROJECT
Figure 1: A schematic of the main divisions of the building design.
Figure 2: The designs of the various construction elements of the
building including concrete work, timber framing, CLT slabs and façade.
The building’s volume has a sharp triangular shape to the exterior,
articulated also through vertical glass fins for sun shading. In contrast,
the atrium has organically shaped galleries of timber forming a
spectacular open stairway where they come together.
TIMBER AND SUSTAINABILITY
From early on the client was clear in their wish to use timber for the
main structure, mostly due to its positive effects on the users; the
experiential and health-bringing qualities of the future workspaces.
This was further backed by timber’s innate sustainable aspects
providing ground for a BREEAM-NOR Excellent certification
(administered by the Norwegian Green Building Council). The
building’s lifecycle is prolonged by its ability to house flexible
spaces made by multiplying and subdividing the 5.4m
structural grid.
The timber structure is reinforced by visible timber joints with beech
dowels and a continuous edge beam in laminated beech veneer on
each floor along the façade. On the first storey, columns and beams
are also made in laminated beech due to the cantilever over the
pavement.
The remainder of the structure is made from Glued laminated timber
and Cross-Laminated Timber in spruce. Curved in two directions, the
loadbearing stair stringers support a spectacular open stairway,
cantilevering five meters into the atrium.
The use of different kinds of timber used in very different structural
elements creates variations within a similar aesthetical language. It is
all woven together into a holistic organic experience in timber.
Figure 3: The species and engineered timber types used in the building,
quantity of materials used and CO 2 impact.
LIST OF PROFESSIONALS
Client
Tenant
ARK
RIB
Tree Advisor
Façade
Contractors
Interior
Landscape
Finansparken Bjergsted AS
Sparebank 1 S R- Bank
Helen & Hard, SAAHA
Degree of Freedom
Hermann Blümer
Rubicon
Veidekke
Lark
Asplan Viak
BUILDING DETAILS AND TIMELINE
The project was started in 2014 and was brought to completion in
November 2019. The building has 7 storeys above ground –
approximately 13 200m 2 , and three floors below ground –
approximately 9 200m 2 .
The interior finish of the 7th floor of the building – a beautiful view.
March 2014
January 2015
August 2015
May 2016
November 2016
May 2018
January 2019
July 2019
November 2019
Competition phase
Sketch/design phase
Initial phase
Detail phase
Building phase started
Concrete construction phase completed
Wooden structure construction phase
completed
Faces/ Façade installation completed
Project completed
www.timberiq.co.za // AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2020 25