Can Hybrid Construction Practices Reduce the Building Industry’s Impact on the Environment?

In an article published in “pbctoday” (4-5-23), Liam Bryant, an associate at London-based Webb Yates Engineers, discusses the use of hybrid timber construction in meeting sustainability targets for construction projects. According to Bryant, while steel and concrete are the traditional building materials for most non-residential construction in the UK, optimizing them cannot deliver the impact needed to meet current climate targets.

Bryant says the use of hybrid timber construction is an alternative, which captures the benefits of amalgamation and allows for the provision of low-carbon, high-performing, and beautiful buildings. In hybrid timber construction designed by Webb Yates Engineers, the frame is designed to support the architectural intent and servicing strategy, and the thermal mass of stone is combined with the clear spans of timber.

“pbctoday” and Bryant cite two projects that utilized hybrid construction methods to meet specific design and functionality requirements: the Anna Freud Centre, which used laminated veneered lumber (LVL) for the primary frame and a thin concrete slab, and a private housing project in South London, which used limestone tiles spanning between glulam beams to provide additional head height and manage summer overheating.