Kingspan TEK Gets Sporty at New Pavilion

The Kingspan TEK Building System of structural insulated panels (SIPs) has provided the bespoke, thermally efficient shell for a minimalist pavilion at Eton College’s Willowbrook Outdoor Sports Centre.

The stunning single-storey building, designed by Lewandowski Architects, sits at the centre of the site and provides a range of facilities including changing rooms, toilets and a kitchen along with a roof-top viewing platform.

Feltham Construction managed work on the project which included the demolition of the building’s outdated predecessor. Wood was a key part of the material palette, with charred timber fitted for the outer cladding and birch-ply boards fitted internally.

This approach extended to the structure, with Bentley SIP Systems using the Kingspan TEK Building System for the walls of the structural shell.

Kingspan TEK Building System is formed from SIPs with a high performance, rigid insulation core autohesively bonded between two OSB/3 facings. 142mm thick Kingspan TEK panels were selected for the walls of the pavilion.

As Kingspan TEK Delivery Partners, Bentley SIP Systems oversaw the design and factory cutting of the panels before delivering them to site. 

David Bentley, from Bentley SIP Systems, discussed the project: “The Kingspan TEK Building System was specified by Lewandowski Architects at the pre-tender stage and we worked with them from that point to the erection of the building shell.

“The System was chosen both because of its excellent insulation properties and because it could facilitate a fast-track construction programme. As we pre-cut each panel to the project’s specific requirements, we were easily able to incorporate features such as the structural steel which supports the retractable glazing to the front of the building.”

The Kingspan TEK Building System’s unique jointing system ensures insulation continuity between the panels, helping to minimise repeating thermal bridges.

In combination with the OSB/3 facing, this jointing arrangement also facilitates the creation of highly airtight buildings, which should help to reduce the long-term heating requirements for the project and provide a warm, comfortable environment for athletes and spectators.

Bentley SIP Systems’ operatives were able to rapidly erect the SIPs with a dry installation programme. The precision factory design eliminated the need for offsite alterations and waste whilst the OSB/3 facing provided an ideal substrate for the external and internal timber cladding.