July 2005
Timber frame engineering at the heart of stylish new apartments
A prestigious development of more than 230 one and two bedroom apartments in West Manchester is being created with timber frame technology from Chandos Timber Engineering at the heart of a rapid build schedule.
Quay 5 in Ordsall is being developed by LPC Living (the Legendary Property Company) and is made up of five distinctive blocks of 3, 4 and 5 storeys. The apartments major on stylish high specification including secure parking and entry systems, with balconies and roof terraces on selected properties, and they sold out within eight weeks of release.
Key to the development is the rapid build schedule made possible by the use of the timber frames engineered by Chandos at its factory in Rochdale, where the company offers a full design and installation service for apartment developers across the UK. Chandos is also installing the frames on site using its own joinery teams to ensure the integrity of the installation and to guarantee that the challenging deadlines for progress are achieved.
Steve Meredith is the site manager for Quay 5 main contractors the Livesey Group, and he was the principal driving force behind specifying timber frame and the selection of Chandos to produce and install it.
He explains: “Timber frame construction makes a huge difference to the build schedule – in some cases it can halve the construction programme – but that depends on getting it right first time. I have worked with Chandos before on a smaller project and I know that they can deliver the goods on schedule both in terms of the design and factory-build element, and the site installation, using their own teams working alongside other sub contractors. That means I can have the confidence to line up the brickwork contractors to start as soon as Chandos reach the two storey mark, with the brickies working one level behind them.
“Timber frame construction also speeds up other elements of the build such as first fix and internal partitions and plasterboard; as soon as the lid goes on the structure is weatherproof and can continue regardless of what’s happening outside.”
The designs for the timber frame systems in the Quay 5 apartments have been produced by Chandos working closely with architects Falconer Chester of Liverpool, with careful consideration given to meeting requirements for Part L thermal efficiency and Part E sound insulation performance. The external envelope of the building features two different varieties of brick, different coloured render and aluminium cladding to create distinct characters for each of the 5 apartment blocks, as specified by the local planners.
Consulting architect Alastair Shepherd confirmed that scheduling and cost were the key elements in the use of timber frame construction, and he has been delighted with the results.
He commented: “We have principally worked with traditional brick and block building systems in the past for this type of development, but we would certainly consider timber frame as a strong contender in the future after the excellent results at Quay 5.”
Chandos contract manager Dean Hodgkiess explains: “Timber frame construction creates high performance structures that deliver advanced insulation values and also meet environmental concerns through the use of renewable resources. All our timber is created from renewable resources and our handbuilt construction process means other environmental impact is minimized.”
For the developers the speed of construction has been matched by the speed at which the new apartments have been snapped up: within eight weeks of the apartments being made available every one had been purchased.
Warren Smith, chairman of LPC, explains "We want to attract new people here who will have a stake in the community, that is why I am delighted that more than half have gone to first-time buyers. We are helping people get on the ladder and I am very proud of that."