India Buildings, Liverpool

Legal & General

Described as Liverpool’s pre-eminent merchants’ palace, India Buildings is a 400,000sq ft Grade II* listed building located on Water Street in the centre of Liverpool.

Acting initially as scheme monitors, TFT has subsequently been appointed to undertake full Project Management, Employer’s Agent and Cost Consultancy services of India Buildings under a 2016 Design and Build Contract.

Since its establishment in 1932, the building has been used for office purposes, with a shopping arcade at ground floor level. The works include a full CAT A refurbishment of an existing Grade II* listed banking hall, into a modern, open-plan office space over seven floors for 3,500 HMRC staff. The ground floor will provide space for leisure and recreational facilities.

Many of the original features of this listed building have been sensitively restored, such as the original service counters, stonework, toilets and cubicles, decorative detailing, cornice, ceiling roses and chandeliers.

The building is constructed to a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, and is recognised in several awards shortlists for achieving ambitious sustainability, wellbeing and social value objectives with a technically challenging heritage scheme.

On completion, the project has been recognised with RICS North West and Insider Property North West honours. RICS judges named India Buildings as a winning refurbishment project, noting:

“This project presented several challenges for the teams involved in delivering a modern workspace within an historic building. However, the collaboration and commitment to persevere has brought the building back to the 21st century with happy end-users whilst engaging with apprentices and other local groups throughout.”