Monday, 23 March 2015 12:54

Danby Visitor Centre, The Moors Centre

Danby Visitor Centre, The Moors Centre

Structural and Civil Consultants ltd acted as the main structural engineer for the innovative Showcase Area of the Danby Visitor Centre, alongside the architects WM Saunders Partnership ltd.

The North York Moors National Park Authority set out to construct an environmentally friendly building within what was once an old walled kitchen garden. Scrapping the proposed sedum roof and replacing the steel frame with locally-sourced timber met the client’s needs and also gained them a certificate from GreenBeams for safe carbon storage.

The North York Moors National Park Authority successfully stored 9.3 tonnes of CO2 in the main oak structure of the Danby visitor centre. Moreover, by deciding to use local timber, rather than the more conventional choice of steel, they sequestered the 6.7 tonnes of CO2 which would have otherwise have been emitted during the manufacture of a steel frame. Altogether then the net saving of carbon dioxide was 16 tonnes.

The Danby project showed how sustainability criteria can easily be met without compromising on either the structural integrity or the appearance of a building. More information on how local Hardwoods can be brokered and used to enable carbon offsetting is available to read at GreenBeams.com.

 

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