The windows at the Grade 1 listed Leeds Town Hall are a dominant feature of all facades, and contribute greatly to the character and appearance of the building. The fenestration of the building is a key element of the classical design, with a repetition of arched windows on the principal and first floors wrapping around the entire building.

In partnership with NPS, Page\Park led an assessment of the window condition, including historical and contemporary alterations, and made proposals for a comprehensive replacement of the Town Hall’s windows with a new design sympathetic to the original, but which offers vastly improved technical performance to meet Leeds City Council’s decarbonisation plan. The windows were replaced in 2022, completing the first phase in the wider redevelopment of the Town Hall.

Conservation

At the project outset, the windows were found to be large rectangular steel casements set in the original timber frames, added in the 1950s, with a semicircular fan light above. Very few casements (if any) in the building could be opened and closed properly. It appeared that due to the height and size of the opening casements, they distorted considerably while opening and closing. An adhesive film had been applied to the glass, reportedly to minimize glare and provide protection from explosive blasts. This had delaminated from the glass in many instances, and was unsightly from street-level.