A Collaboration between Architect and Engineer
Creating a modern local-history museum in a listed residential building
THE WIRKSWORTH HERITAGE CENTRE, WIRKSWORTH, DERBYSHIRE
The Wirksworth Heritage Centre in Derbyshire were gifted a three-storey townhouse and shop, and through Heritage Lottery grant funding had developed a proposal to convert it into a £2m local heritage museum.
The building was Grade II listed, with the main features of historic interest were located at the front of the building.
The Architect's proposals required extensive remodelling of the building, the introduction of a lift, and the removal of internal cross-walls, along with a new rear extension.
GCA supported the project from the very start, beginning with a structural appraisal of the existing structure, and working through to completion of construction.
We used our engineering experience and expertise to confirm that the existing historic fabric was structurally adequate, avoiding the carbon footprint of reconstruction even where they were not compliant with modern codes.
