Harris mill

Details:

Type: Conversion of listed building
Location: Ladywell Street, Preston
Size: 17,500sqft, cost £600,000
Status: Completed
Team: David Bellis at Lowry Design

A listed building and former hosiery mill in central Preston, where a complete renovation was carried out to provide student accommodation. The final development comprised 
of 16 flats, with a total of 72 en-suite study bedrooms.
David Bellis' ability to work closely with Preston Borough Council's Conservation Officer and the contractors was of paramount importance for the success of the project.
The final design provides a dramatic entrance hall where a four-storey volume has been created up through the building exposing existing beam and column structures. 

A new steel staircase runs up through the volume providing access to each floor level. The stair and volume have been made as open and unrestricted as possible within the parameters laid down in building and fire regulations documents and, by positioned centrally in the building, additional escape stairs have been avoided, providing the opportunity to create further accommodation which normally would have been required for alternative means of escape.
David Bellis was awarded Civic Trust Award for Conservation following completion of this project.