Timber iQ December / January 2022 | Page 27

The new Warner Stand at Lord ’ s Cricket Ground

By American Hardwood Export Council ( AHEC )
FEATURE
An engineering marvel made of American white oak features in the redevelopment of the Warner Stand at one of the world ’ s most iconic sporting facilities , Lord ’ s Cricket Ground in St John ’ s Wood , London .

The Marylebone Cricket Club ( MCC ) commissioned architects Populous to design the new stand , which is part of an ongoing masterplan to improve visitor experience and boost the international reputation of worldrenowned Lord ’ s .

In this pioneering project , the roof of the stand is formed from 11 cantilevered glue laminated ( glulam ) American white oak beams , manufactured in Germany by specialist timber fabricators Hess Timber , that radiate dramatically from the corner of the ground , paving the way for brave new structural uses of sustainable American hardwoods .
Each beam measures 900mm x 350mm at the deepest point . The longest glulam beam weighs approximately 4 tonnes and measures 23.4 metres in length , the same as 26 cricket bats lined up nose to tail . They are all covered by a lightweight fabric roof covering . The AHEC Grown in Seconds sustainability calculator shows that the 100mᶟ of American white oak lumber used to fabricate the beams will have taken 160 seconds to grow back in the American forest .
“ The imagination of the architects , the inspiration of the engineers and the skill and tenacity of the fabricators has produced a landmark structure , which is a pivotal moment in the evolution of timber
Each 4-tonne beam is carefully lifted into position for the construction .
www . timberiq . co . za // DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022 25