Ancoats Dispensary shortlisted for AJ Retrofit Award

The restoration of Ancoats Dispensary has been shortlisted in the 'saved from demolition' category at the prestigious AJ Retrofit Awards. Organised by The Architects’ Journal, these awards celebrate outstanding design, engineering, and construction efforts that extend and enhance the life of buildings.

The iconic Grade II listed Ancoats Dispensary, close to Manchester city centre, was built in 1874 to provide healthcare for the city’s growing population alongside the Royal Infirmary. The building became vacant in 1989 and was left to deteriorate with scaffolding holding up what remained of the existing structure.

Led by Buttress, the project involved stabilising the structure, restoring key architectural features, and repurposing the space into 39 contemporary, affordable apartments. At the heart of our approach was a commitment to balancing historical preservation with sustainable design, ensuring that the building could serve the community for generations to come.

Alison Haigh, Associate at Buttress, commented: “Restoring Ancoats Dispensary was a complex and sensitive process. Being shortlisted for the AJ Retrofit Awards is testament to team’s expertise in heritage buildings and how through innovative thinking and thoughtful design, we are able to breathe new life into these structures and give them an important, functional role in the community once again.” 

The AJ Retrofit Awards are known for celebrating projects that demonstrate excellence in the adaptive reuse of buildings.