Market Hall

Project

Market Hall

Location

Devonport, Plymouth

Client

Real Ideas Organisation

Contract

£4.5m

Duration

50 weeks

Project Description

Classic Builders successfully delivered the extensive strip-out and sensitive refurbishment of Plymouth’s Grade II listed Market Hall, transforming it into a world-class digital animation hub. The flagship project seamlessly integrated the historic structural fabric with a striking new steel-frame extension, which houses Europe’s first 360-degree immersive domed cinema. The facility offers vibrant co-working spaces, hot desks, video editing suites, a 360 film production room, and a public café.

The structural resurrection of the 19th-century building required engineering ingenuity to overcome decades of neglect and historic bomb damage. The existing cast-iron primary structural members suffered from severe cracking and required immediate replacement or strengthening. The delivery team carefully stripped lead paint from the internal cast-iron frames before applying a modern intumescent fire-protection system. Externally, masonry specialists carried out extensive stonework conservation along Duke Street, repaired the failing horizontal cross-ties on the upper triangular roof screens, and completed high-specification re-roofing and re-glazing works. Internally, a reduced-level dig allowed for new floor slabs with integrated underfloor heating, alongside a sensitive, Building Control-approved restoration of the master staircase handrail.

Led by the Real Ideas Organisation in partnership with Plymouth City Council and local arts institutions, the project navigated strict European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) guidelines. Classic Builders maintained a transparent cost-accounting document trail and provided early pre-construction value engineering to protect the client’s budget. To meet environmental targets, the Building Research Establishment (BRE) authored a bespoke measurement method, enabling the unique blend of old and new components to successfully achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating. This collaborative ethos was reinforced through ‘Build it in a Day’ supply chain workshops and close coordination with specialised Canadian engineers to flawlessly install the client-procured immersive dome package.

The site team worked diligently to protect the surrounding residential community. They hosted extensive community consultations, stakeholder progress newsletters, and guided educational site tours for local schools.

The project was recognised in the following awards:

• ‘Heritage Project of the Year’ – Michelmores Property Awards 2021
• ‘Best Conversion or Conservation’ – Abercrombie Awards 2021
• ‘The Best Building’ – Abercrombie Awards 2021 (Highly Commended)