The Southcote Community Centre Reading, designed by the Reading Borough Council, was constructed off-site using semi volumetric panel building system, combined with timber aluminium composite windows.

The new building offers a much needed new nursery school for the area and a community centre. The cedar cladding results in warm tones and attractive commercial photography and architectural photography. With prohibitive costs for traditional methods of construction and in order to regulate costs, the council decided to opt for an off-site build solution.

The designers were given the freedom of design and choice of materials whilst keeping within tight cost constraints and tight deadlines for completion. Predominantly timber was chosen for construction for its ‘warmth’ and environmentally friendly nature creating attractive commercial photography and architectural photography. As the construction was primarily undertaken off-site in a production environment, quality was maintained, which was also reflected in the choice of composite timber aluminium window system for the project.

The composite windows chosen bring out the best of each material, timber for insulation and unquestionable sustainability, and powder coated aluminium for outstanding weathering characteristics, high strength to weight ratio and recyclability. The projects proposed value was £520k and was completed in 3 months.