Date: Thursday 9th December 2021

This talk will take place in person at the Bristol University Campus. Bristol University are asking all students and visitors to wear a mask indoors on campus.

Time: 6.30pm

Location: Chemistry lecture room LT2

School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS

To find the entrance - go to end of Cantocks Close behind Engineering (What 3 words ///winks.pest.quick) and turn right (assuming you are standing with the road behind you). The entrance will be ahead of you. If coming from Engineering on University walk, go down the wide steps at the end of the building, then down another set of steps to get below the terrace, turn left at the bottom and entrance will be straight ahead.

In recent years Structural Engineers Corbett and Tasker have designed a series of chapels for the Christian Community in the UK, the latest one being a chapel in Stroud, Gloucestershire, realized in Cross Laminated Timber. This structure explores the potential of CLT beyond slabs simply supported on walls or beams and investigates how it can be used to form an expressed vaulted structure where the forces flow from roof to walls with in-plane forces dominating over bending forces. Architect and Engineer were inspired by the great medieval cathedral builders where internal 3D form is derived from a fusion of ecclesiastical function and structural efficiency and where stone is used both as structure and internal finish. Whilst it is impractical to reproduce the inspiring hand-crafted medieval cathedral structures in the 21st Century as practicing structural engineers we wanted to capture these essential qualities and give them a contemporary interpretation.

This talk will relay the early creative design development, innovation, detailing and construction of this project which has been recognized at the Wood Awards as well as the Structural Timber Awards and is shortlisted at this year’s Structural Awards.

About the speaker: Peter Corbett, Director at Corbett and Tasker Structural Engineering

Peter started out working at Gifford, then Ramboll where he gained a wide range of experience in both large and small projects leading the structural design from scheme stage through to construction. His projects have included a number of award-winning structures, many noted for their innovative use of materials and high environmental standards. In 2013 he founded Corbett and Tasker with David Tasker to focus on finely crafted, well considered, and elegantly detailed structures where research and innovation is frequently required to develop solutions. Key interests include advanced timber engineering, working with existing buildings and temporary, demountable structures.

Image credit: Fernando Manoso