The remodelling and conservation of York Guildhall, led by Burrell Foley Fischer, has been announced as the winner of the 2023 LABC Yorkshire Award for Best Non-residential Extension, Alteration or Conversion and a National LABC Awards finalist.
Local Authority Building Control (LABC) represents all local authority building control teams in England and Wales. Their annual Building Excellence Awards celebrate achievements in the construction industry and recognise quality in all types of building project and individual contributions in the construction industry. They reward excellent buildings, outstanding companies, and partnerships and individuals that go that extra mile.
The Guildhall complex, made up of Grade I, II* and II listed buildings built around a large 15th-century Guild Hall, is owned by City of York Council. 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 the historic and creative city.
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 refurbishment, together with new build interventions as necessary to re-purpose the complex for a 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, with a landscape treatment designed to provide flood resilience. The refurbishment of Common Hall Yard into a flexible external space builds on its ceremonial traditions and improves public access throughout the complex.
The River Ouse was used to transport materials to and from the site to avoid construction traffic in York's narrow city centre streets. The Guildhall's riverside location allowed contractors to use the river to erect an on-site Tower Crane and provide access for deliveries, which would otherwise be impossible via road.
The Guildhall now goes forward to compete against the category winners in each of the regions at the National LABC Awards to be held in London early next year. Full details of all the winners can be found on the LABC Website.