The restoration and remodelling of York Guildhall, led by Burrell Foley Fischer, was Highly Commended at the 2023 Constructing Excellence Awards, in the Conservation and Regeneration Category.
The Constructing Excellence Awards are a celebration of everything the UK’s Built Environment has to be proud of. The awards are designed to showcase how the Constructing Excellence principles are delivered in practice and crucially inspire others to embrace these principles. Winners are selected through a regional awards programme to go forward to the national finals. The awards are decided by a panel of expert judges with significant proven experience in driving and implementing innovation and positive change across the sector.
The Guildhall complex is owned by City of York Council and is made up of Grade I, II* and II listed buildings built around a large 15th-century Guildhall. The capital spend has transformed it from a long-term liability for the Council into a vibrant and financially viable city landmark. The refurbishment and remodelling provides a world class venue, supporting and nurturing the expansion of York’s vibrant businesses; combining events and exhibition space with state-of-the-art collaboration and co-working facilities in the heart of a historic and creative city, and securing an economically viable and sustainable future for one of its most iconic buildings.
The project has delivered a comprehensive refurbishment of one of York’s most prestigious and historically significant buildings, together with new build interventions as necessary to re-purpose the complex for its new use. Best practice conservation principles have been adopted, in terms of the approach to enhancing and better revealing the significance of the heritage assets, whilst incorporating modern servicing and amenity requirements.
The integration of renewable and decarbonising technology, in the form of a Water Source Heat Pump, provides sustainable green energy from the adjacent River Ouse and showcases that any building can be adapted to contribute towards the sustainability agenda. This, linked with carefully considered building fabric improvements that were complementary of the listed nature of the building, has reduced both running costs and carbon in use whilst improving the buildings environmental comfort for its occupiers.
The River Ouse was used to transport materials to and from the site to avoid construction traffic in York's narrow city centre streets. Due to the Guildhall's central riverside location, the Canal & River Trust enabled contractors to use the river to erect an on-site Tower Crane and provide access for deliveries, which would otherwise be impossible via road. Use of the river has also reduced road deliveries into the heart of the city. Over 1,000 river deliveries were made through the contract period to bring in equipment and materials.
This unique construction methodology coupled with the complexity and care required to safely restore and regenerate the Guildhall complex set this project apart from any other Conservation & Regeneration project and has offered the opportunity for heritage skills to be gained and honed along with opportunities for job creation though apprenticeships and hours of invaluable time contributing to social responsibly.