Leno CLT panels defy gravity

Finnforest Merk’s Leno cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels have been used to overcome the structural challenges posed in an education centre project in the Netherlands.

Leno panels were selected for their strength-to-weight ratio, enabling the construction of a 7m cantilever over the water at the Oostvaarders building, an education centre for the Oostvaarderplassen.

Architects Evelien van Veen and Simone Drost, from Drost + van Veen, chose timber as the primary structural element for its lightweight and natural characteristics:

“Because this is a building for visitors to the reserve to learn about the nature around them we decided to implement a natural material which would fit with the environment,” said Evelien van Veen.

“The Leno panels enabled the construction of the long cantilever section whilst ensuring no additional loading was required for the site.”

Timber engineer Lüning recommended that the massive wood structure be constructed using Finnforest Merk’s Leno.

The interior of the walls has been left unfinished to transmit the warm aesthetic of wood and emphasise the natural surroundings of the nature reserve.

Fabricated by Finnforest Merk in Germany, CLT panels can be produced in dimensions up to 4.8x20m, with thicknesses between 50-300mm.