Project of the week

WHAT: An educational centre known as The Core, located next to the Eden project’s famous Biomes.

WHEN: The Core opened this week, after 20 months of construction work.

WHERE: The Eden Project, near St Austell, Cornwall.

HOW: The Core is designed based on how plants grow, incorporating a central trunk and canopy roof. The roof is an intricate jigsaw of curved wooden beams arranged in Fibonacci spirals, a pattern found in natural forms, such as snail shells and pinecones; 847 pieces of timber were used.

VALUE: £12m spent on construction.

CONTRACT: NEC option C, target cost.

WHO: Davis Langdon was the project’s QS, the client is the Eden Project and the contractor was the McAlpines (Alfred & Sir Robert).

QS VIEW: “This project was like riding a unicycle while juggling cats. We had to throw the pricing books out the window.” – Nick Andrews, associate, Davis Langdon.

SAY WHAT? “I hate exaggeration so I’ll tell you the simple truth. This is the finest modern building in the world and anyone who says they can show me a better looking one is either a liar or clairvoyant” – Tim Smit, CEO, Eden Project.