We were delighted to work with Rother District Council and the architects DK-CM on the refurbishment and extension of the Camber Sands welcome centre and beach public toilets. Our scope covered civil and structural engineering through planning, design and construction. The building has been commended for its design and has featured in the Architectural Review and The Observer.

The project provided an excellent opportunity to prioritise environmental performance, while being sensitive to the challenging coastal conditions of the site. We focused on developing a lean and sustainable timber structure that is capable of withstanding harsh environmental conditions, with strong winds and constant exposure to salt spray and sand. We were able to achieve a fully timber solution, including wood fibre insulation, meaning the project achieved an A+ ‘SCORS’ rating from the IStructE. This recognises the structure’s extremely low embodied carbon, and is one of the first such ratings to be awarded for a public sector building in the UK.

Circularity and reuse of materials were guiding principles in our structural engineering process. Via a comprehensive materials audit we were able to schedule timber and steel for reuse. Recycling materials and using locally-sourced timber were both crucial in achieving the project’s sustainability goals.

It was also essential to us that we acknowledged the building’s location next to a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). We therefore gave special consideration to vibration and differential settlement to minimise disturbance to the sensitive and rare dune habitats immediately adjacent to the site.

Outside the building, our civil engineering designs prioritised robust pavements and drainage systems which minimise the maintenance burden on the coastal officers and are more resilient to blockages by sand.