Restoration of the Building
The Mansfield Traquair Trust acquired the former Catholic Apostolic Church in February 1998. Project planning and design work took over two years (see Chronology) and work to repair the building fabric and convert the building to its new use finally started in October 2000, finishing in August 2002.
The key to the rescue of the Mansfield Traquair Centre was the creation of substantial office space in the under-building to give the building a viable use not requiring ongoing public subsidy. Two floors of offices were fitted into the space beneath the nave with ancillary accommodation below the chancel and in the attached clergy house and new circulation by means of a new stair sunk through the floor of the circular baptistery. This considerable enabling development was contained within the envelope of the building yet kept the main architectural spaces and the view of the murals unencumbered. The only alteration in the upper floor was a new floor laid on top of the original floor which preserved the original floor and provided under-floor heating and cabling needed for a flexible multi-function space.
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations moved into their new headquarters, now called the Mansfield Traquair Centre, in July 2002. The upper floor, with the main architectural spaces and the murals, is now a multi-function venue used for private functions, corporate entertainment and public events. The building is regularly open to the public.
Description of Work
Repair work:
- Stone repairs using Blaxter stone from Northumberland
- All roofs reslated
- New terracotta cresting to roofs to match original
- All leadwork and rain water goods renewed
- Lightning protection installed
- New railings to match original
- Decorative tiling in nave and narthex repaired
Alterations:
- Ground floor lowered by up to 2m to create height for an open-plan office below the nave with mezzanine gallery
- Both levels linked to main entrance by foyers below narthex and new stair sunk through baptistery floor
- Secondary escape stair, staff accommodation and catering kitchen built in clergy house
- Meeting rooms, toilets and service accommodation created below chancel
- New oak floor placed on top of original floor in nave
- New co-ordinated colour scheme throughout including repainting lower nave panels in a neutral stone colour
Services renewed:
- New lighting throughout including specially designed chandeliers for lighting the upper floor and murals
- Cabling for theatre-style lighting provided to clerestory and lifting points in roof for lighting rigs
- All new plumbing
- New heating installed powered by four gas boilers in boiler house below chancel
- New electrical wiring supplied from switch room below south chapel chancel
- Ducting for computer and telecommunications cabling
Landscaping:
- Holly trees against walls and self-seeded sycamores removed
- Sitting out area to north in grass and meadow flowers
- Paths in stone, roadway in tarmac with stone kerbs
- Rest planted with ground cover ivy with spring bulbs, early summer clematis and late summer honeysuckle
Design Team
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