Monday, December 8, 2025
The installation of the core timber frame structure that will form the center’s unique internal Lolfa (Welsh for “living room”) is a substantial building milestone for the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC) in South Wales, a project aiming to provide world-class cancer treatment facilities. This central core space, which extends the full height of the building, is designed by architects White Arkitekter as the heart of the facility. It is the crucial point of arrival that all patients, visitors, and staff will pass through. By utilising one of the largest timber frames of its kind in a UK healthcare setting, the nVCC is making a powerful statement about the role of mass timber in creating a low-carbon, human-centred built environment.
The design of the nVCC is fundamentally centred around the needs of patients, their families, and staff, and the Lolfa is the physical manifestation of this patient-centric approach. Set to be easily identified by its distinctive finish and open design, the Lolfa will be a naturally calming, flexible, and inviting space.
Key features of this central area include a café and an amphitheatre-style seating arrangement where patients and visitors can relax and enjoy views into the lower entrance garden. Features such as green spaces, therapeutic areas, and dedicated family sections are integral to the centre’s overall strategy to enhance comfort, dignity, and the healing environment.
David Powell, Project Director for the New Velindre Cancer Centre, highlighted the structural and symbolic importance of the installation: “The fitting of the timber frame is a hugely exciting milestone. This key structure will not only define the look and feel of the Lolfa, but also reflects our commitment to building a modern, low-carbon hospital that places people at its heart.”
The choice of a structural timber frame for the central public space is a deliberate decision, driven by both aesthetic goals and ambitious sustainability targets. The nVCC aims to be one of the UK’s most sustainable health centres, and mass timber materials—specifically Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glued Laminated Timber (Glulam)—are essential to achieving this goal.
As Alex Brock of B&K Hybrid Solutions, the contractor responsible for the fitting, noted, the structural timber was selected to showcase the strength and elegance of the material while naturally creating warm, inviting spaces. The aesthetic value of exposed timber is scientifically proven to have a positive, stress-relieving effect on occupants, making it an ideal choice for a cancer treatment environment.
Beyond the visible benefits, the engineering advantages of using CLT and glulam are substantial for large-scale construction:
The project employs a hybrid structural strategy, integrating CLT and glulam for the public areas with strategically supporting steelwork. This approach, which ensures both structural stability and long-term flexibility for future changes in medical equipment or treatment models, demonstrates the versatility of the modern timber frame industry in delivering highly complex, adaptable healthcare infrastructure.
The new Velindre Cancer Centre is more than just a hospital; it is being developed to comply with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and serve as a model for sustainable public sector building in the UK. The design, executed by the Acorn Consortium led by Principal Contractor Sacyr UK, champions circular economy principles, maximising the use of low-embodied-carbon and bio-based materials wherever possible.
This landmark project not only highlights the growing viability of mass timber in high-specification, sensitive building typologies—such as healthcare facilities—but also positions the UK’s timber frame industry at the forefront of providing sustainable solutions for future infrastructure needs. The commitment to natural materials, green spaces, and user-wellbeing ensures that the nVCC will deliver both world-class medical outcomes and a profoundly enhanced, healing environment for the South Wales community it serves.
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Tags: CLT and glulam construction, low-carbon building, mass timber healthcare UK, Sacyr UK, sustainable hospital design, timber frame Lolfa, Velindre Cancer Centre
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