We are delighted to announce that Burrell Foley Fischer’s refurbishment and remodelling of York Guildhall has been shortlisted for the AJ Retrofit Awards 2023 in the Listed Building (£5 million and over) category.
The AJ Retrofit Awards, presented by The Architects’ Journal, recognise and celebrate the design expertise behind the vital renewal and repurposing of existing buildings, setting a precedent for ways to slash the industry’s carbon footprint in the process. With a huge spend on upgrading housing, commercial and industrial buildings, retrofit plays a major role in the future of UK construction.
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 Guild Hall. The refurbishment and remodelling has provided a world class venue, supporting and nurturing the expansion of York’s vibrant creative 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, securing a sustainable future for one of its most iconic buildings.
The main hall suffered significant bomb damage during the second world war and since its reopening in 1960 had received only reactive repairs, putting the building at risk. The project has secured the future of the Guildhall complex, through the delivery of an economically viable and sustainable scheme. It has delivered a comprehensive (once in 100 years) refurbishment of the complex, together with new build interventions as necessary to re-purpose the complex for its new use.
The core requirement for modern flexible offices and the associated provision of multipurpose space to suit a variety of potential uses as co-working / conferencing / meeting and events / exhibition space has been achieved through sensitive planning and an understanding of the balance between new and existing, volume and space.
A café and a separate restaurant unit benefit from a new south facing riverside courtyard and garden space with an exemplary landscape treatment, creating more attractive circulation routes and linking to the adjacent retail centre and independent cinema development. The refurbishment of Common Hall Yard into a flexible external space builds on its ceremonial traditions with the new riverside courtyard created as a destination to view the River Ouse and improve public access throughout the complex.
The York Guildhall is one of two BFF projects shortlisted for the 2023 Awards, with our refurbishment and remodelling of Hall for Cornwall in Truro also being nominated in the Cultural and Religious Buildings (£5 million and over) category. The winners will be announced at the AJ Retrofit Awards ceremony on Thursday 30th March 2023 at the Brewery, London.