Client
Royal Society for the Protection of BirdsLocation
Edwinstowe, NottinghamshireContractor
Woodhead ConstructionFinal Contract Value
£5.3mCompletion Date
May 2018Project Brief
An RSPB led consortium won approval from Newark & Sherwood District Council to build the new visitor centre which will be located at Forest Corner within the iconic Sherwood Forest. The original 1970’s visitors centre was replaced with a new brand £5.3m visitors centre.
Sherwood Forest Country Park is located in North Nottinghamshire and is considered the magical home of Robin Hood, and the infamous “Major’ Oak” tree is one of the main attractions that brings around 350,000 visitors each year. The new visitor centre now comprises a welcome area, a shop and a café. It also includes a terrace for the café and an amphitheatre outdoor area.
The essential solution
Essential Projects was appointed to manufacture and install a bespoke feature staircase within the new Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, which opened to the public in Summer 2018.
Designed by JDDK Architects, the new visitor centre has been designed to fit seamlessly into the existing surrounding at Forest Corner, so that almost a village square is formed. One of the main features of the Centre is its curved, twisted form, created by staggered roof beams, which again has been designed to reflect the forest environment
The visitor centre has been designed to create a 558sq metre split level structure and the bespoke stainless steel and glass staircase was incorporated to provide access to the upper floors of this split-level structure to create a stunning focal point to the architectural design of the building interior and the welcome area.
The feature staircase was manufactured out of powder coated mild steel with a glass balustrade and stainless steel handrails. Solid oak treads were installed as part of the finished glass staircase so that the finished look remained in keeping with the woodlands environment.
