The new £15 million school has taken a further step closer to completion. McLaren Construction is pleased to mark this occasion with a topping out ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) structure. This is McLaren’s first project using this innovative building material.
A PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties) school specifically designed to provide a diverse choice of teaching and specialist support for a broad range of students, each having an exceptional condition requiring highly skilled staff and is one of the few of its type regionally.
Our carefully considered design proposal of CLT has not only provided our Client with programme and budget savings but also provides an environmentally sustainable and low carbon building solution. Studies undertaken by Pro:Holz Steiermark have shown that timber as a construction material has a positive influence on human health therefore contributing to a low stress environment for students and teachers to work in.
The scheme also features a substantial landscaped park, where previously this inner city site had no soft landscape; the park will boast a diverse array of plants and trees which will be of great benefit to the children attending the school whilst enhancing its immediate surroundings and the wider community.
“We are very pleased to be at this key stage in delivering this exciting and important project for the London Borough of Hackney.” David Owen, Operations Director, McLaren Construction
Councillor Rita Krishna attended the event and commented: “This is a major milestone in a very important project, which is making a huge difference to young people in Hackney. Good quality, fit for purpose schools help pupils to feel inspired and motivated. I am delighted that work is on schedule; it’s great to see the school taking shape.”
“The use of CLT is a new venture for the LEP and its construction partners McLaren, this innovative approach at Ickburgh has offered a programme efficient solution on site whilst maintaining the accuracy and quality of an off-site manufactured product.” Thomas Baxter – LEP Design and Build Manager