IStructE Awards 2021 Winners!

Thomasons  recently celebrated winning The IStructE North West Structural Award for Most Innovative Project 2021 for its work on the restoration of the Church of the Ascension in Salford.

Kornel Mielcarek and Clare Hudson

Thomasons were appointed to provide structural engineering and project management services for the reinstatement of the Grade II listed church following a devastating fire in 2017.

The fire consumed all timber elements including the various roofs, timber suspended floors and internal screens and, most significantly, the heat of the fire caused extensive damage to the stone columns that supported the main nave walls. Securing the stability of the church was the immediate priority before commencing the restoration works. This included stabilisation of the nave stone columns and masonry facades. Working together with Buttress Architects, the overall design philosophy for the surviving structure was to retain and repair as much of the existing building fabric and detail as possible.

Phase 1 of the restoration works to the external envelope was completed in December 2020. The Phase 2 interior works are still ongoing and are due to be completed in July 2022.