Built in 1886, the Domestic Finishing Mill in Paisley was used for the finishing of domestic sewing work and handicrafts. This iconic Category A Listed building has always had a deep rooted link with the town’s social, cultural and economic development and its rich textile heritage. Its long-awaited renewal has been widely seen as symbolic of the continued regeneration of Paisley itself.

Buro Happold was appointed as structural engineer for the restoration of the mill into a high quality business and residential development. When work began, it had lain derelict for over 10 years and suffered significant water and fire damage, so assessment work was needed.

When restoring historic buildings, the objective is to keep the amount of structural engineering undertaken to a minimum. Buro Happold’s investment in testing and research proved that major strengthening works were not needed. This not only allowed the building to be successfully re-used, but led to considerable time and cost savings on the project.

Date: 2004 - 2005