Engineering Building roof reconstruction has exceeded expectations
The ambitious project to replace the roof of our world-famous Engineering Building, which saw all the 2,500 glass panels of the diamond-shaped roof reconstructed and replaced to exacting standards, has been officially completed.
Taking nearly two years of intricate work on site to accomplish, the extraordinary results of this technically demanding project will be celebrated by the University next week at an event tonight (Monday 9 October).
The complex project, delivered by a consortium of partners including Lendlease and other trade packages, required demanding engineering solutions to overcome the challenges of enhancing an historic building, and contemporary technical requirements, whilst maintaining the exterior aesthetic. The glazing system for the roof is a bespoke installation where no empirical industry standards could be applied.
Designed by architects Stirling and Gowan, the Grade II* listed building is recognised internationally as one of the most significant buildings of the 20th century and is considered an architectural icon. The building, constructed in the 1960s, had a unique glass roof and vertical glazed panels system which reached the end of its useful life.
The University has invested substantially in repairing its Grade II* listed Engineering building to improve its technical performance and comfort for users.
Following detailed negotiations with the University, Leicester City Council, Historic England and the 20th Century Society, work began on site in 2015. The aim was that the new roof and other works will provide a faithful recreation of the different geometric profiles and forms and extend the functionality of the building for another fifty years.
The Daily Telegraph included the Engineering Building in a national list of the fifty most famous structures in the UK, including Hadrian’s Wall and Stonehenge, in 2008. Among its many other plaudits, it has been hailed as one of the top 10 most inspiring buildings in the UK and most recently, was listed as one of the 'world's best unsung buildings' by The Guardian.
Watch a BBC East Midlands Today report on the Engineering Building Roof: