B&K completes Asda store

B&K Timber Structures (BKTS) has completed its first major contract since being launched, after supplying an engineered timber frame for a new Asda eco store in Oldham.

BKTS, a subsidiary of B&K Steelwork Fabrications Ltd launched at the beginning of the year, designed, manufactured and installed the glulam frame at the site, which made up the main structure of the 34,313m² building.

Timber was also used as an architectural feature in the main entrance canopy and first floor restaurant, where the beams were left exposed.

Finnforest UK supplied the engineered timber used in the frame after supplying similar products to an eco store for rival supermarket Tesco.

BKTS said that using glulam had saved on the use of over 500 tonnes of steel, while also allowing "greater design flexibility" for it create a low maintenance and highly insulated building.

The eco store is the first step in Asda's drive to build energy efficient buildings and reduce its footprint on the environment.