The future's bright for Liverpool's old buildings

Aug 19 2008 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

Peter Elson finds that Liverpool is as much a city of engineering as of architecture as Britain celebrates a century of structural engineering.

THE rusting iron gates squeal in grating tones, disturbed from their slumbering guard over one of the greatest rooms in Liverpool.

We are one of the few groups of visitors in decades to see inside the city’s old Royal Insurance Company Building headquarters,

In spite of its prominent impact on the skyline, sited on the corner of Dale Street and North John Street, this magnificent Edwardian property has been empty for years.

Finally, it appears a restoration scheme is under way to convert it into a plush hotel that befits one of Britain’s finest stone-built office blocks, dating from 1897- 190,3 designed by J Francis Doyle and Richard Norman Shaw.

Yet is it really a stone building? The two basement floors are built of Aberdeen granite and bricks in the traditional load-bearing manner, but above it is constructed of a steel frame with Portland stone cladding.

In fact, the old Royal Insurance Building represents much of central Liverpool’s acclaimed architecture, based as equally on engineering skills as architectural ones.

Metal-framed buildings predominate from Peter Ellis’s Oriel Chambers on Water Street and No 16 Cook Street. Likewise, steel frames support Tower, Royal Liver, Cunard, India and Martin’s buildings, as well as the Philharmonic Hall.

All modern buildings follow this form today – not least the latest, in Grosvenor’s Liverpool One shopping centre.

Although Peter Ellis’s pioneering buildings date from 1864, this is the official centenary of the Institute of Structural Engineers. Formally incorporated in 1908, its anniversary will be celebrated with talks and exhibitions.

This coincides with the 100th anniversary of W Aubrey Thomas completing his design for Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building, one of the world’s first concrete reinforced steel buildings.

Sean Keyes is a leading Liverpool structural engineer with first-hand knowledge from working on many of the city’s buildings. He is a director of Sutcliffe engineers, in Harrington Street, established here for nearly 30 years.

Now the old Royal Insurance Building has received planning permission to become a 90- bedroom hotel, Sean and his team have been checking over its steelwork since last October, preparing for its refurbishment.

"This is an amazing building. When you stand in the former general office, you experience this vast column-free room, which is made possible by this huge, but unseen steel frame," says Sean, 41, who lives in Bowring Park.

Most of the second floor is occupied by great steel girders hidden in the thickness of the chimney breasts, which in turn they support.

"Although this sort of design led the way when it was constructed, nobody would build it like this today, as its materials and labour-intensive style would be far too expensive. But it will be a beautiful hotel," says Sean.

Indeed, posing as an entirely solid, stone building complete with richly-carved sculpture, 160ft high tower and all kinds of artistic flourishes must have increased construction costs.

Steel frames carry a building’s load, reducing the walls to merely keeping out the elements or dividing up interiors.