Transformers

Town Hall transformers

A project of this complexity involves many teams over many years.

The design team included conservation architects, landscape architects, structural and civil engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers, cost managers, project managers, exhibition designers, heritage engagement managers, volunteer coordinators, NLHF monitors, lawyers, procurement specialists, and artists.

To deliver this project we took on a coordinating main contractor. They managed and coordinated specialist stained glass conservators, specialist painted surfaces conservators, specialist furniture, timber and tile conservators. We needed lift specialists, scaffolding specialists, lead workers, roofers, stone masons, temporary works engineers, painters, decorators, and hard landscaping specialists.

Over 1000 people have worked on site to restore the building - quite a team!

Volunteers

Volunteers are at the heart of the revived Town Hall. They worked in a wide range of roles throughout its redevelopment.

Volunteers took part in Conservation Skills Courses, carried out research, and have looked after the Town Hall collection of objects.

Working alongside the Town Hall Heritage Team and staff at Rochdale Local Studies Library, they have uncovered many of the stories and fascinating facts you’ll read and hear about today.

Apprentices

Restoring this Grade I listed building has offered a wide range of wonderful opportunities to train and develop young people in specialist and traditional skills.

On this project we had roofing apprentices, electrical apprentices, `painted surface conservation apprentices, timber restoration apprentices, a project management apprentice, and a conservation architect apprentice.
Hear what it was like being an apprentice on the Town Hall project

Artists and conservators

Artists have been commissioned to create artworks inside and outside the building.
You may have already seen the Rochdale Carpet on your way into the building. These etched paving stones take pictures, patterns and stories from the Town Hall outside for all to see. They were designed by artist Vic Whitaker, known as Doodlher. Hear Doodlher talk about her work here.

With such a range of decorations and features within the Town Hall, diverse teams of conservation specialists were needed to tackle the restoration work. Lancashire Conservation Studio, Hirst Conservation, and York Glaziers Trust worked on site for up to two years.

As the Town Hall enters the next chapter of its life, it is paramount that we all play a part in looking after it so that generations to come can enjoy it. We will work with local people to uphold this duty of care, providing training a range of building conservation techniques via our on-site Conservation Studio.