The Centre is run by a charitable organisation & includes a Fair Trade shop & Cafe. The work was phased to ensure the continued use of the building and comprised of re-ordering & renovation of the building. All the external walls were lined with insulation and boarded over to improve the buildings thermal efficiency, secondary glazing was fitted throughout to all windows.
A heat recovery unit & zoned heating systems were also installed. A new folding partition was installed across the main hall creating two separate spaces, where necessary. A new self-contained modern kitchen was constructed, with softwood framing & clad in tongued & grooved boards with a fire rated glazed screen built over, into the vaulted ceiling.
Structurally the building remains unchanged but now has a lighter and more open feel to it and most of the original material and features remain. The integrity of the building has been upheld whilst considerable upgrading and improvement works have been undertaken, allowing the original character to remain. The work ensures the buildings longevity and has improved it as a local amenity.
The project was nominated for the RICS Building Conservation Awards 2011.
