Liverpool Hope University – Hermitage & Cloisters Accommodation
Education | Heritage | Residential
Project type
2022
Project completion date
2m
Projected value
12
Project duration (months)
A pair of Grade II* listed, beautiful buildings at Liverpool Hope University Campus were derelict and borderline condemned.
‘Cloisters’ building was turned into self-contained apartments for guests of the university, such as visiting academics and their families.
‘Hermitage’ Building was converted to student residential accommodation.
Krol Corlett worked exclusively with local suppliers, sub-contractors and highly specialised tradespeople to complete the project on budget and to the satisfaction of numerous stakeholders.
Materials had to be specially sourced to meet conservation requirements and various traditional techniques employed. Navigating various challenges, some foreseen and others not (Covid-19), we innovated, adapted and ultimately restored and modernised the buildings without compromising their heritage.
The two buildings were listed in the conservation area, St Michael’s Hamlet, so we knew from the start there would be stringent planning controls to navigate.
Disruption to students, staff and tenants meant careful planning on our part.
Our approach was to consult and collaborate fully with the appropriate parties from the very start of the project. We gained building consent from the council, worked closely with university representatives and spoke with a community-led group that included students, staff and residents.
Through this consultation process, we were able to successfully ensure that everybody was able to go about their day-to-day business with minimal disruption, during the project.
Modernise without compromising the heritage or the historic aesthetic
– that was the crux of our brief from the client.
The buildings needed to be useful, attractive and functional additions to a living, breathing university campus. And at the same time, retain as many original features as possible.
Materials were painstakingly sourced and subcontractors with incredibly specialised skills were identified and brought into the Krol Corlett supply chain.
Stonemasons, stained glass workers and timber conservation experts were all key to the success of the project. Each member of the assembled team was hand selected from the Northwest.
Liverpool Hope University were delighted with the overall finish and happy to be able to add the Hermitage and Cloisters to their impressive property portfolio.
In particularly, the client was impressed with our innovative solutions to problems that arose during the project.
Feedback from residents was that the buildings had been restored to their ‘former glory’ and been modernised without compromising the heritage.
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