Hybrid solutions for refurbishment and regeneration

Alex Brock, Pre-Construction Manager at B&K Hybrid Solutions, explains how architects and developers can construct low-carbon buildings without compromising on performance or aesthetics.  

As the construction sector continues to evolve, there is an ever-growing demand for sustainable, efficient and innovative building solutions. As such, timber-steel hybrid structures have emerged as a key solution to refurbishment and regeneration challenges, providing a combination of sustainability, structural efficiency and design flexibility. 

The Labour Government has made it clear that climate action is a key priority for the UK. As a result, the construction industry must tackle its environmental impact by addressing building design. According to the UK Green Building Council, construction activities contribute around 10% of the UK’s total carbon emissions – a figure that rises to 45% when considering the broader built environment sector. To meet the UK's 2025 net zero goals, both operational and embodied carbon emissions must be significantly reduced, and hybrid mass timber structural systems offer a viable pathway to achieving this, using the carbon-sequestering properties of timber along with the strength and durability of steel. 

Long-term carbon storage 

Timber is a renewable material that not only absorbs CO2 during its growth but also acts as a long-term carbon store when used in buildings. When responsibly sourced and combined with low-carbon steel, hybrid structures present a significantly lower environmental footprint compared to traditional construction materials. Steel elements provide superior tensile strength, enabling long spans and flexible designs, while timber elements offer significant sustainability credentials, structural benefits and versatility in future adaptability. This synergy between materials allows for the refurbishment of buildings that are both resilient and energy efficient.  

Hybrid solutions are particularly suitable for dense urban environments, offering both time and cost savings. Precision prefabrication reduces on site works, while the lightweight nature of timber –approximately one-fifth the weight of concrete – allows for easier transportation and minimises site congestion, which is particularly beneficial for refurbishment schemes.  

Walworth Town Hall – a meticulous redevelopment in a sensitive response to a devastating fire in 2013 – is a great example of how to use a hybrid structure for refurbishment. The Grade II-listed building was repurposed for the good of the local community through an offsite manufactured hybrid timber-steel solution. Using strengthening steelwork for the refurbishment works and timber for the roof, the solution was to restore the original elements and further modernise the building with new vertical extensions and roofs, a new mezzanine floor, and a new lift core. Additionally, using structural timber for the refurbishment works not only enhanced the sustainability credentials of the building, but also took advantage of the lightweight benefits the material can bring to retrofit projects, whilst retaining superb structural performance.  

Another example of innovative hybrid construction is the Technique project in Clerkenwell, London, which saw two outdated industrial buildings unified into a cutting-edge commercial space. By employing a hybrid structural system consisting of steel and engineered timber, three additional floors were added to the existing structure, improving both environmental performance and the versatility of the new commercial building.  

Timber-steel hybrid solutions can provide an answer to many of the challenges facing the UK construction industry today. By combining the best properties of both materials, these systems can deliver sustainable, cost-effective, and architecturally exciting solutions for refurbishment and regeneration projects. As the UK moves towards its net zero goals, embracing hybrid solutions will be key to building a greener, more resilient future. 

With a key focus on sustainability, innovation and efficiency, B&K Hybrid Solutions has played a crucial role in the construction of hybrid timber-steel structures in a range of award-winning projects. 

www.bkhybridsolutions.co.uk