Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This new build and refurbishment scheme located near Kings Cross, London provides high quality facilities for a charity. Extensive research and testing into materials and connections resulted in a structurally and thermally efficient final solution. 

Judge's comment:

Strong coordination and collaboration are evident throughout this project.

The adopted structural typologies make appropriate use of individual materials’ properties compositely to efficiently solve structural challenges, whilst maintaining a clear focus on carbon impact. 

The building makes use of Timber-Concrete-Composite flooring elements, Glulam beams and LVL frames, in conjunction with some steel and concrete where unavoidable.

These deliberate structural engineering choices would only have been possible through close collaboration with all relevant parties and a thorough understanding of material performance and global behaviour.

The scheme aims to reduce carbon where possible, including in the concrete mix specifications, use of cement-replacements in large proportions, and lightweight timber construction high-up within the load paths. 

This is a prime example of implementing the best structural materials within their context, putting sustainable development atop of the design agenda and achieving a better high-quality final product as a result.