Refurb of Liverpool hotel completes
The refurbishment and restoration of Liverpool’s Grade II listed Municipal Buildings has been completed by Russell WBHO.
The team handed over the keys to the new 179-bedroom The Municipal Hotel MGallery Collection in Liverpool prior to the official opening this month.
The two-year project culminated in the bells of the iconic clock tower chiming for the first time since Liverpool City Council left its former offices in 2016.
Russell WBHO was appointed to the project by hotel developer Fragrance Group. RBH Management will operate the building for global hotelier Accor under the MGallery brand.
The Municipal Buildings opened in Dale Street in 1868 as the base for the then Liverpool Corporation. Internally it had been updated over time to accommodate changing council requirements.
Gareth Russell, managing director of Russell WBHO, said: “This was a highly complex project with the change of use from municipal office to luxury hotel, and the addition of a modern extension to an iconic Grade II listed building. The building was entrusted into our care and I am enormously proud of the work our team has done to transform it into this incredible space.
“We must acknowledge not only the skills of all the trades and subcontractors who have worked on the project, but also Liverpool City Council’s planning and heritage team with whom we have worked closely. We thank them all for their support along with Falconer Chester Hall and the interior design team, and of course the client who had a very clear vision of what this building could become. We hope the hotel’s future guests and the people of Liverpool will enjoy this beautiful building and be very proud of what we have all achieved.”
Alastair Shepherd, director of Falconer Chester Hall, added: “This is one of the most important buildings we’ve ever had the privilege to work on and we could not be prouder of the end result. We were trusted with this project by Fragrance, who are worthy custodians of this incredible building, and it has been a pleasure working with them. The respect of those restoring the building is clear in every detail and I know visitors to the hotel are going to absolutely love it.”
The professional team also includes structural engineers Curtins Consulting, Koncept ID and Grayland interior design, heritage architect Stephen Levrant, Jensen Hughes Fire consultants, acoustic consultants Auditive, and Walsh Integrated Building Services.
