A new £5 million visitor centre has been opened at the iconic Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire.
Completed by Woodhead Construction and designed by JDDK Architects, the new centre includes a contemporary reception area, retail space and a double height atrium with a café.
The national building services consultancy Building Services Design (BSD) provided mechanical and electrical engineering (M&E) services, with Kartar Consulting delivering employers agent and quantity surveying services.
The Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre is run by an RSPB-led consortium, working together with Nottinghamshire County Council.
Chris O'Boyle, associate director at BSD, said: "The amazing new visitor centre is a predominantly wooden building, which required entirely exposed services. This meant that we had to create a design that was conscious of the overall aesthetic; considering both the centre itself as well as the surroundings.
"Sherwood Forest is obviously a site of significant natural importance, so we needed to design a building that was both visually appealing as well as practically functioning.
"We managed this by ensuring that all high-level services followed the curvature of the building, particularly the high-level containment which houses the electrical cable. The roof has a unique, curved shape which means the containment baskets are more prominent and act as feature of the internal space."
He continued: "It was important for the client that the building was also as environmentally friendly as possible.
"We completed a considerable amount of thermal modelling to make sure that it achieved its required 'B' energy rating. As the site is quite tight, we installed air source heat pumps – rather than ground heat pumps – which is just as environmentally friendly but requires much less space and means that the required heating and hot water is available on demand.
"We're incredibly proud to have been part of such a transformative project, which I'm sure will be a well-used and widely-enjoyed facility for the RSPB and Sherwood Forest's visitors."
The centre was officially opened during the Robin Hood Festival.
(CM/MH)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Construction News
12/12/2018
New Visitor Centre Opens At Nottinghamshire's Sherwood Forest
Latest Construction News
21/11/2024
Stepnell has opened its new office in Liverpool, marking a significant step in the company's expansion into the North West. Building on its extensive experience delivering projects across the East and West Midlands as well as South of England, Stepnell is well positioned to serve a broader range ...
21/11/2024
Kier has announced a partnership with Sunbelt Rentals, naming the company as its official supplier of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel. The move marks a significant step in Kier's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and enhance sustainability across its operations. Over the next year, ...
21/11/2024
Esh Construction has been appointed to lead the next stage of one of the UK's most ambitious urban regeneration initiatives, Riverside Sunderland. In collaboration with Sunderland City Council, the company will deliver a £5.7 million package of infrastructure upgrades to drive forward this ...
21/11/2024
Europe's leading online cleanroom consumables supplier, Cleanroomshop, has recently launched a brand-new website, giving its users an improved user experience. The new website continues to offer over 2,000 products from more than 40 brands, whilst incorporating a new look and more efficient ...
21/11/2024
At Ecomerchant, we offer a carefully curated selection of sustainable weatherproofing solutions, including natural lime renders, mineral finishes, and vapour-open waterproofing materials. They help prevent structural damage while ensuring your building can breathe naturally. Our eco-friendly ...
20/11/2024
Construction firm Willmott Dixon has partnered with Westminster City Council on a £36 million project to restore the historic Seymour Centre in Marylebone, a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1930s. The project, procured through the SCF framework, will see the three-storey centre undergo ...
20/11/2024
The Hill Group has commenced work on a new development in Billericay, Essex, which will deliver 179 high-quality homes across a 20-acre site. Designed to blend with Billericay's scenic countryside while addressing the pressing demand for sustainable housing, the project is located on Kennel Lane ...
20/11/2024
Extensive groundwork is underway for a new housing development in Maidstone, where Vistry Group, in partnership with Legal & General Affordable Homes, is set to build 272 properties on the site of the former Tovil Quarry off Farleigh Hill. The project will include 37 affordable homes for low-cost ...
20/11/2024
Stonewater has scooped a new energy efficiency retrofit contract with compliance and energy services provider Correct Contract Services. This work, funded through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2, will include a range of energy-saving upgrades. Measures such as loft ...
20/11/2024
Kier has been appointed by Cambridgeshire County Council to deliver building, mechanical, and electrical maintenance services across the Council's portfolio of 160 corporate buildings. The contract, which began in November 2024, will run until 2027, with the possibility of two one-year extensions ...