FIRST WHITE CLOTH HALL

RESTORATION WORKS

LOCATION

Leeds

SECTOR

Restoration

CLIENT

First White Cloth Hall Ltd

ARCHITECT

Buttress Architects

PROJECT VALUE

£2.5m

CONTRACT

Design & Build

PERIOD

Feb 2019 – Nov 2020

CONTRACT PERIOD

21 months

THE BRIEF

H.H. Smith were awarded this building conservation, restoration and development project following a competitive tender process. Restoration works to one of Leeds oldest buildings has revitalised the Grade II* listed former cloth market on Kirkgate. Kirkgate is the main arterial road through Leeds, therefore access / deliveries / operational requirements were very challenging. Works included restoration of the hall’s demolished west wing along with an inner glazed atrium courtyard and new shop front. The restored external shell houses the inner state of the art steel framed structure, fitted out with a modern interior, supported by all new services and data infrastructure. We are proud to once again be working with Buttress Architects, who we have worked with on numerous previous heritage projects. The project was part funded by heritage funds.

KEY POINTS

Similar to The Unitarian Chapel, Manchester, completed by H.H. Smith in 2017, the construction of an inner steel frame now provides the buildings structural strength. This had to be coordinated, managed and constructed around the existing façade support and seamlessly blend the historic with the new.

CHALLENGES

This grade II* listed building had been left derelict for many years with extensive decay and damage to the structure. The skills of H.H. Smith’s specialist trades men, all who have undertaken many heritage projects previously, were integral to the success of the project. Flexibility and capacity to adapt to the build was vital on this project of such unknowns. The varied stakeholders, Leeds City Council, the Developer, Rushbond, Leeds Civic Trust, and the Heritage Lottery Fund required a collaborative approach to ensure a successful outcome. Management of information and process was necessary to satisfy the relevant funding bodies.