It is a wonderful space with a wonderful new use. They have gone to great lengths not to disturb the original features.Stuart Bailey,
Chairman of Leicester Civic Society
Makers’ Yard Building Conversion Leicester offers ten inspirational workspaces for people who make things, from furniture designers to textile artists, in the heart of Leicester’s city centre’s cultural quarter.
The grade II listed, 1860s former Charnwood Hosiery factory in Rutland Street, Leicester, was previously derelict. The Buildings are thought to be the first of their kind in Leicester, and the oldest surviving in the region.
Makers Yard is nurturing creative economic activity in the city within a sensitively regenerated historic Leicester landmark. It is benefiting the creative industries, local businesses and the wider community by providing facilities for artists, designers and makers to develop existing or start-up businesses.
The building provides shared facilities including a communal kiln room and external courtyard areas, with circulation routes throughout the building having been improved with the insertion of a new lift and stair core to provide access for all.
The Leicester City Council project was 70 per cent let within its first month and has won the following awards:
Regeneration Project of the Year Award 2013 – Procon Leicestershire Awards
Regeneration & Restoration Project of the Year Finalist -East Midlands Property Awards
Leicester Civic Society Award for restoration 2012
Key challenges and engineering solutions:
Makers Yard had a high degree of damage to timber and masonry elements as a result of lack of maintenance and weathertightness. Working with the design team and conservation officer BSP devised a scheme of repairs including strengthening of existing timber joists to cope with the demands of the planned mixed end use.
Previous building modifications included connection of two adjoining buildings with differing floor levels and a part basement. A new three storey external glazed lift shaft was added, the new steelwork structure co-ordinated differing internal levels, we also designed a bespoke replacement staircase.
An historic cast iron lifting wheel was retained, BSP devised a new support structure that released the load whilst maintaining its present location providing support.
Take a look at some other similar projects we have been involved with:
Role
- Structural engineer
Client
Leicester City Council
Contractor
Morgan Sindall
Architect
Maber
Project Description
Sympathetic regeneration of an historically significant former hosiery factory to create new work spaces for small creative businesses.
Value
£1.4m
Completion
2013
