Walton-on-the-Naze Education & Visitor Centre, Essex

New Visitors Centre

Company: Cadman Construction Ltd | Category: Social, Community & Leisure

Case Study Project comprised of the construction of a new environmentally sensitive Visitor Centre for the Essex Wildlife Trust adjacent to the coast of Walton-on-the-Naze. A curved Glulam structure was formed on a curved, heavily reinforced raft slab with a 'green' roof and a mixture of external timber walls and large areas of aluminium glazing to capture the sea views.

A large shop/cafe area dominates the floor area as well as kitchens, toilets and changing areas. Public access toilets were also constructed within the footprint, but accessed externally. The building was heated via underfloor heating with energy supplied from air source heat pumps. The site was situated remotely from the main road and all services were bought into the building from a distance.

The building was insulated using recycled cellutone insulation and linoleum was used on the floors. Both these materials were produced using a high percentage of natural and recycled materials.