BFF named finalist in the London Construction Awards for Union Chapel

We are delighted to announce that BFF has been named a finalist in the London Construction Awards for our work on Sunday School Stories, the conservation, repair and retrofit of the Grade II* listed Sunday School Hall at Union Chapel in Islington.

The project has transformed a deteriorating Victorian building into an accessible, energy-efficient and flexible heritage and community venue, while retaining the character and embodied carbon of this significant historic building.

At the heart of the project is a fabric-first, conservation-led approach to retrofit. BFF combined essential repairs with a carefully coordinated package of interventions, from insulation and secondary glazing to improved services, lighting and ventilation. Each measure was tailored to the existing building, improving its environmental performance and usability while respecting and retaining its historic fabric and character.

Roof and floor insulation, secondary glazing, efficient LED lighting and controls, improved ventilation, underfloor heating and upgraded mechanical and electrical services have been integrated into the historic building with minimal impact on its character. Together, these measures are projected to deliver a 68% reduction in energy consumption, alongside improved thermal comfort and significantly enhanced building performance.

The project demonstrates how historic buildings can respond to the climate emergency through thoughtful adaptation rather than wholesale replacement. By retaining and repairing the existing building, the project preserves the substantial embodied carbon already invested in its construction, while reducing the energy required to operate it in the future.

“This project is a fantastic example of how heritage and sustainability can go hand in hand. We’re not only preserving a rare and beautiful building but also setting a benchmark for how historic spaces can be adapted to be more comfortable, flexible and inclusive, and address the environmental challenges of today. There are so many exciting opportunities the space will be able to offer to our communities now and for many years to come. We’re incredibly grateful to our funders and to the skilled and dedicated team making this transformation possible.”

Tom Linton-Smith, Union Chapel Project Trustee and Chair of the Infrastructure Working Group

But sustainability at Union Chapel is about more than energy performance. The restored Hall has been designed around the people who use it, supporting a much wider range of activities including workshops, exhibitions, community events, meetings, performances and archive activities. A new public-facing archive and reading room provides an opportunity to share Union Chapel's 200-year history with new audiences, while improved accessibility, including a new accessible entrance and WC facilities, opens the building to a broader community.

The project has also provided opportunities for people to engage directly with the building and the skills needed to care for it. Heritage-building workshops during construction have introduced members of the community to traditional roofing, carpentry, brickwork and plasterwork, connecting the physical conservation of the building with the knowledge and skills required for its future.

Delivery has been a collaborative process involving Union Chapel, BFF, specialist consultants, Fullers Builders, funders, heritage bodies and the wider community. Working within a Grade II* listed building required careful coordination of conservation, environmental performance, accessibility, fire safety and practical construction requirements.

Sunday School Stories demonstrates that heritage conservation, carbon reduction and social sustainability can reinforce rather than compete with one another. By combining careful repair, evidence-led retrofit, appropriate technology and new opportunities for community use, the project gives this important historic building a sustainable future while retaining what makes it special.

We are proud to see the project recognised as a finalist in the London Construction Awards and look forward to celebrating alongside the other shortlisted projects.