India Buildings
Liverpool, UK - Office
Retrofitting a landmark in the heart of Liverpool’s business district.
The restoration of India Buildings shows that sensitive well loved historic sites can become modern, high performing, attractive workplaces. Originally built in 1926, the grade II* listed merchant’s palace had grown tired over several decades and required careful restoration to create the new home for HMRC Regional Centre and Government Hub for 4,500 HMRC staff. Ryder was commissioned to design the CAT B interior fit out to accommodate organisational growth and provide an inclusive, fully accessible, flexible environment with improved technology.
Bringing visions to reality.
Our approach was led by HMRC’s aspiration for a ‘home from home’ feel, to provide staff with a range of work environments to choose from to best suit their everyday needs. India Buildings also serves its surrounding area, bringing an expected economic boom for the Liverpool business district with HMRC committed to remain for many years.
Desirable spaces for hybrid working.
Smart and agile workspaces provide a space for every occasion, from quiet areas to collaboration zones, open plan meeting spaces and flexible zones for events and training. The Regency Suite has been converted to provide a café, events, touchdown and collaboration areas all in one space. Holt’s Arcade, one of the finest examples of century old arcade shop units in the country, was reimagined as display and smaller meeting spaces.
Dave Clarke
Head of Workspace Design, Estates, Service Design & User Experience
Maintaining historic credentials with every decision.
Due to HMRC’s increased occupancy demands for the building, five new lifts throughout the building, and enhanced security with speed lanes at the main entrance were installed. Similarly, to meet contemporary fire regulations, bespoke solutions were developed with Liverpool City Council and specialist advisors and weaved into the building to eliminate impact to the building’s historic fabric.
Project team.
The scheme was split into a Cat A, led by architects Falconer Chester Hall, and Cat B, led by Ryder interiors, design. With parts of the respective works being undertaken simultaneously using the same contractor, Overbury, both teams collaborated throughout, collaborating with Historic England, Liverpool City Council, and the twentieth Century Society to provide an integrated design.
Andy Leggett
Director, HMRC Risk and Intelligence Service
