Royal Horticultural Society Welcome Building – Wisley, Surrey.

Finished in June 2019 ready for the Spring and Summer seasons, the Welcome Building is the new £20m addition to the flagship RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) gardens in Wisley, Surrey. The installation which includes over 2,500m2 of linear rib ceilings is already a strong contender for our signature project of 2019!

The building was officially opened on the 10th of June by celebrity ambassador for the RHS Alan Titchmarsh, alongside TV Baker Mary Berry and Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society Sue Biggs. The Welcome Building is the first of 3 major works to the 240-acre garden, totalling an impressive £70m investment for the attraction.

The 5,000m2 Welcome Hub is home to modern, state of the art, improved visitor facilities including a grand multi-functional arrivals hall, 100 cover a la carte restaurant and cafe, and a huge shop with an extensive range of gardening books, gifts and homewares.

Being leaders in the ‘Greening Great Britain’ movement, the client looked to keep the project as environmentally responsible as possible; working to the Considerate Constructor program the build process aimed to respect the local community by contributing to the local economy and minimising any negative impacts of the works. The scheme also encourages contractors to consider the long-term sustainability of the build; by using air source underfloor heating and extensive insulation as well as LED lighting throughout, the energy needed for the day-to-day running of the site is greatly reduced.

In keeping with the natural and ‘green’ ethos of the RHS the scheme architect’s at KSS specified linear ribs for the pitched ceilings across the space, the system is comprised of a solid gypsum core rib wrapped in a choice of natural or faux timber veneer and delivered with a unique and versatile ‘easy-up’ installation system.

The linear rib solution allows for versatility of installation; the standard installation system allows for flexibility in gaps between allowing specifiers control over the acoustic performance of the system. By design The Euroclass B-s1,d0 (for fire resistance) gypsum core of the ribs gives a secure base for the industrially glued veneer or foil finish as well as being a stable material for cutting and ensuring the ribs will never warp over time.

Sustainable sourcing is another important factor to be considered in modern building, when working with natural timber products production and supply chain accountability is paramount. FSC® (Forestry Stewardship Council®) product certification is the global standard for responsible timber sourcing. All of the natural Oak timber and veneer used on the 18,000 linear metres of linear ribs at RHS Wisley were delivered as either FSC Mix (veneer) or FSC Controlled Wood (solid timber) certified for meeting the relevant chain of custody requirements of the timber in addition to continuing to commit to the operational values outlined by the council.