Tim Allen-Booth from Niall McLaughlin Architects and Adrian Roker from James Latham discuss the detail design and specification of key joinery elements within the New Library at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, with AT’s John Ramshaw.
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Designed by Niall McLaughlin Architects, New Library at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, is located adjacent to Pepys Library, and is the first substantial addition to the historic site in more than 50 years. The three-storey structure comprises an arrangement of simple brick volumes with elegantly proportioned windows and pitched roofs echoing the gabled architecture of the surrounding college. Inside, single, double, and triple-height spaces form a suite of interconnected rooms with an elevated gallery providing views out over the sloping lawn.
“We conceived the building as a lattice formed of three principal components: brick piers, horizontally spanning softwood timber structure and hardwood joinery,” explains Tim Allen-Booth, project architect and associate at Niall McLaughlin Architects. “Like a piece of fabric, the lattice has a warp and weft, which the different materials help make visible.” The oak joinery was perhaps the most complex of the three primary elements, with a huge number of bespoke items needing to be designed, prototyped and manufactured.
Intended to reflect the surrounding college architecture, the three-storey library incorporates brick walls, gabled roofs and elegant windows made from WoodEx Engineered European Oak.
Delivering this package entailed three different joinery companies: Piper Joinery (windows and external doors), Wedd Joinery (fitted furniture), and Trojan Wood (internal doors and screens). James Latham – one of the UK and Ireland’s largest independent timber distributors – supplied the FSC-certified oak to Piper Joinery and Wedd Joinery. Prime grade, machined Florian European oak was specified for the furniture items, while WoodEx® Engineered European Oak was chosen for the exterior doors and windows.
“Good collaboration between the joiners enabled us to achieve consistency in finishes and details throughout, as if it was all made by one hand,” comments Allen-Booth. Adrian Roker, sales manager at James Latham says, “We have a longstanding professional relationship with both Wedd Joinery and Piper Joinery. This enabled us to discuss the project with them at the earliest stage, which in turn helped delivering on the tight lead times, and overcoming potential problems going forward.”
Oak also has a strong association with joinery in libraries at Magdalene College.
James Latham’s extensive network and key supplier relationships meant that it was able to meet and deliver the sizeable orders for both Florian machined European Oak and WoodEx engineered European Oak, within the project’s constricted time line. The timber itself was felled in Croatia and manufactured by the Italian-headquartered hardwood sawmilling and wood product company Florian. The project team, including the architect, main contractor Cocksedge, Wedd Joinery, James Latham, and a representative of Magdalene College, visited Florian to review and approve the quality of the manufacturer’s work.
Prime Florian European oak was specified for the furniture, including bespoke shelves and tables.
“We specified oak for its durability in external use and its density and close grain which suits the fine detailing required of joinery,” explains Allen-Booth. “Oak also has a strong association with joinery in colleges, particularly in libraries, and is an echo of the earlier libraries at Magdalene College.” Roker also attests to the quality of European oak, “The machined hardwood is a durable, mechanically-resilient material that performs well under compression and bending. It is also resistant to mould and fungal growth, making it ideally suited to demanding furniture applications.” Characterised by a light tan to biscuit tone with a silver-grey figure on quarter-sawn cuts, the timber has a refined, stratified appearance that gradually lightens with age.
James Latham supplied FSC-certified oak to Wedd Joinery and Piper Joinery for the fitted furniture, and windows and external doors respectively.
WoodEx Engineered European Oak was specified for the external doors and windows, ensuring material and aesthetic consistency between the inside and outside. The engineered hardwood, which is exclusive to James Latham, provides improved thermal performance over solid timber, is highly stable and resistant to warping. It has the appearance of solid timber, with the added advantage that the visual face and two sides are clear of defects, making it ideal for joinery projects.
The scale of the internal joinery package meant that manufacturing began almost as soon as work started on site. This meant fitted joinery pieces had to be made to designed dimensions of an as yet unbuilt structure. “At an early stage we set our expectations for the level of precision required in the fit between joinery and structure,” recounts Allen-Booth. “Wedd found ways to manufacture built in desks and shelves so that they could be quickly adjusted on site to suit built dimensions.” Site installation also involved careful sequencing to enable larger pieces, such as the oak reading tables in the central reading room, to be brought into the building. The six-metre-long tables had to be hoisted up through the triple-height void to facilitate installation on the first floor.
Looking back on the project, Allen-Booth says, “The willingness of a huge cast of companies and individuals to engage with the ambition of the building and deliver it through a global pandemic is a testament to their skill and professionalism.” Roker is equally impressed by the final outcome, “It was incredible to see this complex project come to life with two of our highest performing products being used to such a high standard. We really enjoy working closely with our customers to help them to find the right materials for their buildings.”
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