Meet the Finalists
2025 | Renovation & Restoration
Standing empty for over 30 years, this building had fallen into such a ruinous state it was slated for demolition. When James Friedmann took on its renovation, the list of challenges was endless. His professionalism, solutions focus and determination were key to converting the structure into an apartment block while retaining two of the facades and restoring the clock tower.
About the Project
Ancoats Dispensary
James’s revision of the site investigation approach got the foundations under way faster, reducing the overall programme by 10 weeks. Further time and cost benefits came from his installation of a new support structure for the facade in and around the existing scaffold.
The biggest challenge was rebuilding the tower, which rose 11 metres above the roof level and first had to be hand-demolished. James managed to save over half of the existing tower stonework, some of which was discovered in the basement, having fallen right through the building. Nor was it a minor task to replicate the 150-year-old tower roof and detailing from nothing but old photos while complying with exacting modern standards.
His careful preparation and robust delivery – on time, on budget and to a very high standard – of the entire process from protected facade to new home handovers was impressive. So much so that the client now has him delivering a nine-storey residential block
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Renovation & Restoration
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