FOCUS
Treasured asset Paul Williams takes us through some of the
challenges involved in refurbishing Manchester Town Hall and adding fire safety features
M
ANCHESTER TOWN Hall is a Victorian, neo Gothic building and the ceremonial headquarters of Manchester City Council.
Designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse, the now Grade I listed town hall was completed in 1877 and turned 140 years old last year. While it has been maintained over the years and remains structurally sound, it is now seriously showing its age, with many elements reaching the end of their natural lifespans. Without signifi cant work to address damage
and defects, its condition will deteriorate to the point where it will become unfi t for ongoing use and would need to be ‘mothballed’. Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, stated: ‘Manchester Town Hall is a Grade I listed landmark of international significance which is highly regarded for its exceptional craftsmanship and architectural quality. ‘It is cherished by the people of Manchester
having been the civic, political and administrative centre of the city since it was opened in 1877. Located in the heart of Manchester, it is the focus of the civic complex which is framed by two of Manchester’s most signifi cant public spaces; the Grade 1 listed Albert Square to the west and St. Peter’s Square. For over 140 years the building has been central to the governance of Manchester,
22 JULY/AUGUST 2018
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and is a valued heritage asset with signifi cant levels of ceremonial, municipal and commercial uses. ‘Recognising its importance to the City, the Council made the historic decision to commit to the refurbishment and partial restoration of Manchester Town Hall and Albert Square, a decision that will see this jewel in our civic crown updated and made fi t for purpose for another 140 years serving the people and the city of Manchester.’
Key focus
There are many facets of the building that need refurbishment and restoration but, as it was designed in the 1860s, one of the more critical aspects is work needed to bring the building up to modern access and safety standards. Heritage buildings present unique challenges as regards fi re safety and Manchester Town Hall is no exception. Although there are some references to
‘fire proof construction’ in the original design documentation, the hall and historic buildings in general typically have few inherent fi re safety features and often their current use will not be as was originally intended. Also, as is the case with many heritage buildings, there is also a drive to enable greater public use of the building.
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