The first office building to be clad in the modified wood product Accoya has opened in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.

Around 40m³ of Accoya, planed and edge-laminated to panels, was used as cladding for the GoGo Tours offices, highlighting the growing interest in the material from the commercial sector, according to Accoya’s sole UK supplier BSW Timber.

Evert Laarman, from construction firm GLC Houtconstructies, said the company had chosen Accoya as it offered the ideal cladding solution for the project.

“This method of exterior laminating is difficult to achieve with other woods but Accoya wood’s stability and the absence of cracks in the wood makes it ideal and very durable,” said Mr Laarman.

“Accoya wood is a welcome addition to the cladding market.”

“This office building reflects the growing interest in Accoya from the commercial sector and represents the culmination of years of extensive engineering, product testing, field testing and market review,” said John Alexander, head of business development at BSW.