Bouygues UK have recently appointed BCL to partner in the construction of ‘The Oriel’ – a ground-breaking new healthcare project in the heart of Camden, London which will use BCL’s unique Aluminium wooden slatted panels for its central feature, the towering atrium and lift core. The £300 million cutting-edge research centre – a collaboration between Moorfields NHS Eye Hospital & the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, will integrate leading care, research & education facilities all under one roof, with the aim of improving service for patients and fostering new innovative treatments and therapies.
BCL’s work comprises over 1,000 square meters of ‘faux’ timber wall panels using our innovative Aluminium TIMBER EFFECT system, a powerful alternative to solid wood that will deliver enhanced fire & durability performance over a traditional timber panel system. Using varied width slats to provide minimum Class C absorption (in accordance with ISO 11654) the fire resistant wood effect panels will not only provide a beautiful finish, but also reduce reverberation times with the space, helping to improve clarity of announcements and overall user experience.
Given the inherent non-combustible cladding build-up of our ‘TIMBER EFFECT’ system, the internal walls will also provide minimum Class A2 fire performance with full UKAS testing to EN13501-1. This, coupled with our full BIM design service and direct installation by BCL, provides an unparalleled level of assurance to the main contractor and end-user-client of efficient delivery, complete accuracy and full regulatory compliance, unachievable with competing systems.
Initial construction began in 2023, with the centre expected to open in 2027 – and emphasises sustainability and community engagement, including initiatives like environmental monitoring and local employment opportunities. In line with this, the wooden slatted walls delivered using BCL’s TIMBER EFFECT panels, will use a special grade of Aluminium with 54% post-consumer recycled content and 16% pre-consumer – with a typical total system recycled content of over 65% and unlimited recycling potential, making it an ideal choice to fulfil environmental targets and provide a solution in-line with the move towards a true cradle-to-cradle ‘circular economy’. It is also for the above reasons that our Aluminium TIMBER EFFECT system is the perfect choice for A1 cladding and other major commercial projects looking to employ future proofed environmentally conscious systems on their projects.
To find out more about BCL’s acoustic timber panels, our wood ceilings or our ground-breaking Aluminium TIMBER EFFECT systems, please contact us today or call 01189 344155
