modular & off-site construction
A sustainable welcome
Colchester Zoo is widely respected for the quality of its animal enclosures, but humans are the focus of its latest enrichment project.
The new building will join the existing
barn structure via Fordingbridge’s linkway. Measuring 24m in depth and 15m wide, the ceiling height comes in at 4.8m for the central nave. The amount of steel in the building is
THE zoo was keen to enhance the experience of visitors by investing in the entrance to the park. The original entrance comprises a large Essex Barn which had served park guests for a number of years. The zoo wanted to create an environment with the wow factor, using a building which mirrored its ethos of sustainability. The zoo worked with its own
architectural designer who came up with the original concept. Fordingbridge were tasked with converting these concepts into structural, working drawings and consulting with local authorities to obtain planning permission. The company has worked with Colchester Zoo on previous projects dating back some 15 years. These include the lecture theatre which is situated adjacent to the entrance. The new visitor centre is a key part of the
zoo’s two-phase plans to enhance the visitor experience, which will allow the zoo to reconfigure the existing Arcadia gift shop into a much larger retail area, increasing valuable revenue opportunities. Upon completion of Phase 2 it will also allow the zoo to separate guests collecting tickets from those queuing on the day, reducing queues for both and therefore further enhancing the customers immediate experience.
minimal, with the lions’ share comprising sustainably sourced structural timber. The centre will be flooded with natural light, thanks to the creative combination of large elevation, energy efficient glazing units, clerestory windows and roof skylights, which also makes the north and south elevations appear almost transparent. The roof and walls consist of insulated composite panels, helping to maximise the energy efficiency of the building through both winter and summer months. All structural elements including beams,
columns and bracings were pre-fabricated at Fordingbridge’s facility in West Sussex. The company was able to preassemble a great number of parts, such as connecting the brackets to timber columns, while its design team leader had all drawings and spec to hand to aid the engineers. This process not only reduced disruption to the client, but also allowed Fordingbridge to work more efficiently - solid day of preassembly at its factory saves the work of three days on site. Starting in mid-summer, the main
structure including walls, roof and glazing,
was completed in October 2018. If Fordingbridge had utilised more traditional or mainstream methods, the structure would still have been going up into Christmas, allowing the weather a greater chance to present a challenge.
www.fordingbridge.co.uk
Rear view
South East view
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