A two-year, £45million heritage refurbishment of the iconic Municipal Buildings in city centre Liverpool.
The stunning Victorian building dates back to 1868 and was home to Liverpool City Council from its completion until the authority moved out in 2017.
Its renovation and extension was designed by renowned architects Falconer Chester Hall, with whom Russell WBHO worked closely to develop the programme. The professional team also includes structural engineers Curtins Consulting, Koncept ID interior design and specialist heritage architect Stephen Levrant.
In addition to the creation of 179 guests suites across the ground, first and second floor, the hotel’s restaurant, bar and the reception make the most of the incredible ground-floor atrium space, with further meeting and conference facilities throughout the basement and ground floor.
A new-build bronze clad extension at the rear houses additional bedrooms and the spa complex, complete with first floor pool, gym, and treatment rooms.
Constructed of sandstone with a rock-faced granite plinth and projecting three-bay pavilions to each of the four corners, the 17,000 m2 building is notable for the French-style curved roofs, and a clock tower at the centre of the Dale Street elevation.
Internally, the wealth and scale of historic features within the building was protected and sensitively restored including decorative vaulted and coffered ceilings, friezes and marble fireplaces depicting reliefs of Liver Birds and Queen Victoria, tile dados resembling polished parquetry, a former muniments room with metal window shutters and a striking basilica-like main hall, made its restoration an exciting challenge.
