Rosslyn Chapel

A cutting edge timber engineered visitors centre

Location: Midlothian, Scotland

Completed: 2011

Features: Post and beam structure, steel tension rod and plate connections, laminated structural board, stained oak frame.

Requirements: Welcoming visitor centre, modern appearance to contrast existing chapel.

Cost: £230,000

Timber engineering: Momentum

Inspiring visitors to this historic site, for generations to come

Rosslyn Chapel saw a rapid rise in visitor numbers following the success of the book and subsequent film, The Da Vinci Code. To meet the increased demand, a new and innovative visitor centre was commissioned.

With support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland, the project attracted prominent Scottish architects Page\Park, previous collaborators with Carpenter Oak.

The frame at floor level is in striking contrast to the roof; monolithic green oak posts bear vertical steel fins at eaves height, resin bonded into the end grain of the posts to ensure minimal issues with shrinkage.

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A pioneering approach to new forms of timber construction

A scissor braced arrangement of slender 120 x 120mm timbers form two 25m longitudinal roof trusses, clamped and separated by stainless steel bolts and spacers. Connected back to the steel fin plates, the roof appears to float over the eaves beams, separated by clerestory glazing.

Following a trial assembly of the roof in our Wiltshire workshop, our team devised a means of raising each 25m truss into place in one single lift – a
requirement of the complex design.

Using thirty-six manually operated chain hoists suspended from a specially designed scaffold rig, the unique frame was lifted into place.

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Scotland / Chippenham / Devon - Company Reg No. 4081323 / 2204284. VAT Reg No. 768 5502 96 / 501 6326 88





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