SumitomoFireLaboratory
Sumitomo Forestry Co. Ltd.
Midorigahara Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Details
- Client: Sumitomo Forestry Co. Ltd.
- Size: 1 Storey, 390 m2
- Opened: October 2015
- Architect: Sumitomo Forestry Architechno Co. Ltd.
- Engineer: Tsukuba Research Institute of Sumitomo Forestry, PTL Structural Timber Consultants
- Timber supplier and fabricators: Nelson Pine Industries
- Construction: Higgs
What better way to dispel fears regarding the performance of mass timber buildings in fire than to design your own fire laboratory in timber? This is exactly what Sumitomo Forestry Co. Ltd have done with their new Fire Laboratory at Tsukuba Science City, Japan.
The building uses PTL’s Pres-Lam system combining the use of post-tensioned steel cables with large timber members to provide resistance and robustness to the structure. The strength of Pres-Lam walls and the lightness of timber creates the large open space required for the testing hall with eight walls providing lateral and vertical support for the timber roof. With manufacture in New Zealand for overseas construction, tolerances were required to be to the millimetre, precision that CNC machined LVL can provide.
Awards
- 2017 NZ Wood Resene Timber Design Awards - Highly Commended