The brand-new Cambridge Stud Heritage Centre commemorates the proud history of Cambridge Stud with a unique collection that features heritage artefacts, trophies, racing memorabilia and contemporary multimedia displays. Designed by Gibson International who collaborated with Anderson Design, specialists in exhibitions, for the design and installation of bespoke display cabinetry throughout the space.

Having used Plytech in previous projects, Designer Ian Anderson of Anderson Design Limited had no hesitation in selecting Plytech’s ply for the birch ply cabinetry specified throughout. Plytech Birch Ply uses high-quality birch veneer to achieve a natural ply finish. It is ideal for high-end architectural applications such as the Cambridge Stud Heritage Centre where a satin clear finish was chosen to really maximise the warmth of birch throughout the space.

Fifty Birch Ply sheets were used in the project to create display cabinets, seating and floating ceiling panels. “I chose to use Plytech Birch Ply because of the quality and finish,” says Ian. “On top of that, the guys at Plytech are excellent — they really know their product and are good at letting us know what’s available and when it’s going to be arriving.”

Visually, using Birch Ply enabled a warm finish with excellent grain matching, while on a practical level it made for a much lighter product to work with. Panels were cut to size and machined off site by Ferndale Furniture, ready for installation onsite by the Anderson Design team. “The lighter weight of the panels enabled us to have lighter cabinets, which made it very easy for our team,” says Ian.

Completed in late 2021, the Cambridge Stud Heritage Centre is a VIP experience for clients and horse racing aficionados to learn more about the history and future of the stud. The warm finish of the Plytech Birch Ply throughout creates an almost golden atmosphere — and the perfect backdrop for the collection on display.

“The Plytech Birch Ply gives the space a golden glow,” says Ian. “The whole space is fantastic, the client is over the moon and Gibson International were happy, so it was a win on all fronts.”