Façade Repairs - Armstrong Building, Newcastle University

Project overview​

The Armstrong Building at Newcastle University, located on Queen Victoria Road, is an iconic Grade II listed structure constructed in three phases between 1887 and 1906.

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We were appointed to design and erect scaffolding to enable a detailed survey and urgent repair works, following incidents where several large sections of stone had detached and fallen to the ground. As a result, the building’s main entrance façade had been fenced off for over a year prior to our involvement.

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Scope of work​

A fully designed scaffold was erected to the front elevation. Due to loading constraints, the scaffold could only be partially boarded and accessed in controlled stages. The façades were then thoroughly surveyed by a conservation architect alongside our specialist stonemason. In collaboration with the Conservation Officer from Newcastle City Council, the required scope of repair works was agreed to ensure the building’s safety and long-term preservation.

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The majority of the remedial works were concentrated around the tower, which had previously received little attention and where stone deterioration was most severe.

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End result​

Despite the challenges posed by adverse weather, the project was successfully completed by the end of November 2023, allowing the main entrance to be safely reopened to the public.