A 1,300 m² health centre in the village of Cranleigh replaced an existing 1960’s era facility. It was one of Stora Enso's first examples of using mass timber for the structural frame in a health care facility. The project was well received at the time and won the ‘Best Public Building Award’ among several others.

The Cranleigh Health Centre, designed by SR Architects and constructed by Morgan Sindall is a notable example of modern healthcare architecture utilizing Sylva™ Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) prefabricated elements by Stora Enso. 

The 1,300 square meter facility in Surrey, UK, replaced an outdated 1960s-era building, providing a contemporary and sustainable solution for the community's healthcare needs. 

CLT is a versatile and sustainable building material made from layers of solid wood boards glued together at right angles. This configuration gives CLT its exceptional strength and stability, making it an ideal choice for constructing large-scale buildings.

At Cranleigh Health Centre, the use of CLT was pivotal in achieving both structural and aesthetic goals.

Structural

The structural properties of CLT also contributed to the building's design flexibility. The material's strength allowed for large, open interior spaces without the need for numerous supporting columns. This design choice enhanced the functionality of the health centre, providing spacious consultation rooms, patient waiting areas, nurse practice rooms, minor surgery rooms, and administrative spaces.

The open-plan layout not only improved the flow and accessibility within the building but also created a more welcoming and comfortable environment for patients and staff. Sustainability was a key consideration in the design and construction of the Cranleigh Health Centre.

Aesthetic

Aesthetically, the exposed CLT surfaces within the health centre added a warm and natural feel to the interior spaces. The wood's natural grain and texture provided a calming and therapeutic environment, which is particularly beneficial in a healthcare setting. This design choice also aligned with the principles of biophilic design, which emphasizes the connection between people and nature to enhance well-being.

Renewable

CLT is a renewable resource, all of the Sylva elements used in this project were PEFC-certified, ensuring they came from sustainably managed forests.

The Sylva also contributed to the building's overall carbon footprint reduction, as wood stores carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate climate change. Additionally, the natural insulating properties of CLT improved the building's energy efficiency, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling.

Speed on-site

One of the additional advantages of using CLT in the Cranleigh Health Centre was the speed of construction. The prefabricated Sylva™ CLT Walls and Floors, manufactured by Stora Enso were delivered to the site and assembled quickly by specialist timber engineers, Eurban. This rapid erection process significantly reduced the overall construction time, minimizing disruption to the surrounding community and allowing the health centre to become operational sooner.

Awards

The Cranleigh Health Centre project has been recognized for its innovative use of CLT and its contribution to sustainable architecture. It was awarded the Healthcare Project of the Year in 2013 and received several design awards from Waverley Borough Council and was highly Commended in the ‘Community Award’ and the ‘Sustainable Design Award’ at the Waverley Design Awards.

View other health care projects built with Sylva™

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