Drawing inspiration from a ‘log-stack’, Charlton WorkStack breaks the mould of ubiquitous ‘tin-shack’ industrial units. The overlapping, cantilevering workspaces – progressively increasing in size - utilise the lightweight strength of CLT to create much-needed office space on a reduced and compact urban site. Innovative, flexible, and commercially successful, the project is a trailblazer for re-industrialising our cities with timber and is the UK’s first light industrial building of its type and scale.
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Charlton WorkStack has been aclaimed as offering a new model for ‘Maker Spaces’ , breaking the mould of the generic industrial unit. It impressively optimises land usage on a restricted plot by adopting a unique ‘jettied’ form that increases the floor area with each level. This new application of structural timber technology in a commercial setting maximises the benefits of offsite manufacturing.
B&K Structures (BKS) were selected to design, manufacture and erect the structural CLT and structural timber elements. Innovatively long-spanning CLT panels, combined with supporting steelwork, enabled the construction of a cantilevering five-storey structure. The series of incrementally larger, overhanging units – varying in both size and rental price - can accommodate up to 60 users. With its high strength to weight ratio, offsite manufactured CLT was an ideal material for facilitating the optimised inverted form; and the commercial scheme has immediately been perceived as a landmark property in a prominent location.
With their affordability, flexibility and excellent rail and road links, the 14 new units - scaling in size from 55-110 m2 – offer ideal spaces to allow new enterprises to grow and develop. They also contribute to the GEB’s ambition to embrace the ‘15 Minute City’ concept: where people are able to live, work and relax within a smaller urban area. These units have been dubbed ‘Maker Spaces’ which have been designed, not as usual commercial units/office spaces, but as areas for small creative enterprises such as furniture makers, knitwear producers, workwear manufacturers and even a bicycle/motorcycle workshop.
As well as developing the innovative stacked form, the project team have also successfully targeted high levels of energy efficiency and sustainability, with structural timber making significant contributions thanks to the material’s natural ability to capture 297.9 tonnes of carbon within its 391 m3 of CLT walls and floors whilst emitting only 10% of this during manufacturing and transport (28.8 tonnes CO2e), which also offer excellent airtightness. The timber for the construction was regrown in just 66 seconds. The development also features an air source heat pump to generate renewable energy.
Overall, the client Greenwich Enterprise Board have said: “This striking and innovative development of light industrial and office units is now ready for occupation. GEB believes that the design represents a new wave of thinking about how workshops can be provided in the 21st century.”
Alex Brock, BKS Pre-Construction Manager: “For BKS - who have been delivering timber projects for nearly 20 years - we believe the best way to continue bringing timber technology to the mainstream market is through knowledge sharing and collaborative research and development. WorkStack is another project in our portfolio that continues to push the boundaries of timber construction into new and exciting sectors”.
“While F Parkinson as a company have completed three or four structural timber projects, Charlton Workstack was my first timber experience as an individual. The management of the installation and the standard of the workmanship was A*. Personally, carrying out the onsite inspections highlighted the standard of the prefabricated elements – there were no defects when we came to handover the project, and the speed with which the structure went up was unbelievable. From our learned experience on this project, I wouldn’t hesitate to work on another timber project again”
Peter Evans
Site Manager
F Parkinson