Saving space with Kerto® LVL

A unique wooden building has been built in the heart of Utrecht, Netherlands. The new 12 meters-tall residential building with six apartments and two workspaces was designed by Ramin Visch. Complete load-bearing structure is built with Kerto® LVL while fully meeting the requirement for 90-minute fire-resistance.
  • References
  • |
  • |
  • Kerto LVL, Wood construction, Multi-storey building

Using Kerto LVL to maximise living area in Utrecht

Four-storey wooden building has been constructed on a tight spot. The visually appealing building has been designed to be sustainable, safe and material-efficient. Metsä Wood’s Kerto LVL S-beams and Q-panels have been used in floor elements and load-bearing walls. Kerto LVL requires less space for wall structures while still remaining rigid, allowing more room to be used for living. Additionally, prefabricated Kerto LVL elements save time on the construction sites, which is crucial in the inner city locations.

Sustainability has been one cornerstone of this building. A significant effort has been made to make the building as climate-neutral as possible. Heat pumps are used for heating, the building’s own solar panels largely supply the electricity demand and wooden components will act as carbon storage for the building’s lifetime.

Technical information
Products used: Kerto® LVL Q-panel
Kerto® LVL S-beam
Fully meets 90-minute fire-resistance
CO2 emissions of the construction: ~ 43 t
Floor span width: 7 m
Floor elements: Top panel: Kerto LVL Q, 27mm x 2,50m x 7m
Ribs: Kerto LVL S, 45mm x 300mm x 7m 
Wall studs: Kerto LVL S, 39mm x 200mm
Wall panels: Kerto LVL Q, 27mm x 2,50m x 2,80m 
Solar panels: 12,4 kW (peak)