The new Glulam frame at St Richard’s Hospice demonstrates how engineered timber can create calm, uplifting environments within healthcare settings. Constructed using a spruce Glulam structure, the building benefits from the natural warmth and softness of exposed timber, helping to create welcoming, non-clinical spaces for patients, families, and staff. The Glulam frame plays a central role in shaping an environment that prioritises comfort, dignity, and wellbeing.

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The structure was precision-engineered and manufactured offsite, allowing every element to be produced under tightly controlled factory conditions. This approach ensured exceptional quality, accuracy, and consistency throughout the frame, while reducing on-site construction time and disruption — a critical consideration for a live hospice environment. Offsite manufacture also enabled early resolution of complex detailing, delivering a highly coordinated structural solution.

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Concealed glued-in rod connections were integrated within the spruce Glulam members to provide a high-performance, discreet fixing system. These hidden connections deliver excellent structural capacity while maintaining clean, uninterrupted timber surfaces and a refined architectural finish. The result is an elegant, robust glulam frame that combines technical performance with sensitive design, demonstrating how offsite-manufactured timber can support the delivery of thoughtful, human-centred healthcare buildings.