Find an architect

Centre of Refurbishment Excellence

Project Details

£5m to £9.99M

Listed Building - Grade II

Practice

Purcell Architecture Ltd

St James Building , 79 Oxford Street , Manchester , M1 6FQ

Purcell led the regeneration of the Grade II listed Enson pottery factory and America Hotel as well as a new extension. The brief was to transform the disused buildings into CoRE, a national centre of excellence for low energy building retrofit, conference venue, exhibition zone for innovative products in the retrofit market and a construction training college. Purcell's exemplary design and conservation work was recognised with several awards including a RIBA West Midlands Award, an LABC Award for Best Change of Use and as a finalist for the prestigious Building Magazine Project of the Year Award. CoRE was designed as an exemplar sustainable development, a 'living demonstrator' showcasing different technologies and construction methods as well as optimising onsite energy performance. Multiple sustainable technologies were integrated into the historic fabric including photovoltaic and solar hot water panels on the roof. The main heating system is provided by a ground source heat pump with low temperature under floor heating. This is supplemented by a biomass boiler in the reconstructed Victorian pub known as the 'America Hotel' and the two are connected by a district heating system. Three of the kilns conceal heat recovery units in the upper chamber and transfer rising hot air to temper incoming fresh air. The final scheme provides new workshop and conference facilities and created a new 'hub' building containing a reception area and linking the pottery works with the America Hotel. All of the new interventions are designed to be entirely reversible wherever possible, which minimises the impact on the fabric of the building and allows them to be upgraded further in years to come as technology improves. Ranging from Victorian brickwork to 20th century concrete and steel, all repairs were made using like for like materials. Existing floor finishes, which include brick, terrazzo and concrete have been lifted, insulated and reinstated or replaced with similar new materials to preserve the building character.