IKEA Greenwich…new IKEA store built to highest BREEAM rating.
In February 2019, IKEA opened the doors to its most sustainable UK store located in Greenwich, south eastLondon. With sustainability as the key design objective, the 32,000 square metre building has achieved BREEAMOutstanding, thus exceeding Royal Borough of Greenwichplanning requirements of BREEAM Excellent as minimumfor retail schemes.
Project Name: Ikea, Greenwich
Material Type/s: Glulam, timber
Adept Co Client: Constructional Timber Manufacturers Limited
Material Manufacturer: Constructional Timber Manufacturers Limited
Main Contractor: McLaughlin & Harvey Construction Ltd
Architects: SRA Architects
Adept Consulting role
Adept Consulting were engaged by Constructional Timber Ltd to undertake the structural design of all timber elementsof the scheme, including the brise soleil façade, roof skylights,rooftop pavilion and external staircases.
Interesting facts and engineering challenges
The combination of CLT, Glulam and the brise soleil façadecreated challenges. The façade structure features skewglulam beams that receive a tie rod façade system thatrequired meticulous detailing to enable a problem free on-site installation. Adept overcame the tolerance differencesbetween the glulam and steel framework of the façadeand designed specialist ‘shoe’ connections for the brise soleil which was panelised and installed as one.
Whilst scoring well across the board with an overall rating of90.4%, the IKEA Greenwich excels in areas relating to low andzero carbon technologies, water consumption and NOxEmissions. The use of FSC certified larch Glulam and spruceCross Laminated Timber for all timber applications has contributed to this achievement, as well as providing keyarchitectural features in terms of building performance and design aesthetic.
Brise soleil cladding
The building structure is formed of a steel and reinforced concrete frame clad externally in an innovative and eye-catching glulam brise soleil façade. The glulam lamellas, which form the solar shading system, are secured to diagonal posts running from ground to eaves level. A suspended wire system achieves the sleek design aesthetic and overcomes potential issues in the corners of the façade.
Roof lights
Internally, two large glulam roof lights formed of fingerjointed cranked frames provide an architectural featureand flood the interior with natural light, giving an open,welcoming feeling to the stairwell.
Roof pavilion
IKEA Greenwich provides more than a standard retail experience, offering practical support to customers who would like to live a more sustainable lifestyle. On the rooftop, a pavilion set within a sensory wildlife roof garden hosts sustainability workshops and provides an unexpected space for flexible working and socialising. This single storey space is formed of a glulam post and beam structure with CLT roof panels. Glued in rods and steel plates have been used to create a rigid connection between post and beam members in order to achieveuninterrupted long spans of 24m.
