After two years, Middlesbrough Town Hall has opened its doors once again after a £7.7m refurbishment. The Grade II listed building was originally designed by architect George Hoskins and completed in 1889.
The conservation report found that the building had deteriorated significantly over the past couple of decades and the interior no longer suited the grandeur of the exterior. The main contractor, Kier were challenged with restoring the Victorian Gothic building whilst updating for modern use.
Kier were given a 14 month timeframe to which they developed a 10 section strategy, with over 40 specialist trades working simultaneously on each section. The challenging project also had the obstacle of respecting the current occupiers, with over 30 percent of the building being used by the council and also weddings that were held in the town hall. The building works had to be scheduled around the wedding calendar avoiding any disruption.
Restoring Character
The project included regenerating a crypt, prison cells and an old fire station. These are now utilised for events, leisure and educational purposes. During the restoration the building revealed hidden interior secrets, including beautiful stained-glass panels that were hidden behind wooden boards at ceiling level for over 40 years. A specialist team were employed to restore the panels, uncovering the intricate stain-glass designs and making them the central feature of the restored courtroom.
Specialist traders also helped restore all the buildings cornices, lime plastering and paintwork. Another core job was to make the roof water tight using original materials where possible. Heritage material was used across the restoration and unique features are now fully exhibited such as rows of dragon-shaped gargoyles, vast original steel beams adorned with local coat-of-arms and a huge pipe organ.
How we contributed to the restoration of Middlesbrough Town Hall
CCN supplied: 50no Non fire rated/FD30s/FD60s Doorsets, American White Oak Veneered and Paint Grade doors in Engineered redwood frames with MDF architraves complete with hardware. Ironmongery was also supplied with Lever and pull handles matching the existing in the adjacent council building.
