The Courtyard is pleased to announce that it has completed the structural works to its building.
The essential building works began in January to secure the curtain walling from fundamental design and installation issues dating back to 1998. The work has included designing new structural brackets, replacement of gaskets, waterproofing, reglazing of some windowpanes, rebuilding each corner of the curtain walling and securing it to the main building, and installing EPDM (waterproof membrane) at the base and at the top of the curtain walling. It is hoped that these works will extend the life of the curtain walling for at least a further ten years.
During The Courtyard’s major Capital Expansion project, which was partly funded by Arts Council England, the community hub discovered that the building needed urgent structural works. Extensive surveys during this time revealed multiple issues with the glazing that makes up the external walls of the building (known as curtain walling). The surveys carried out in 2019, 2020 and 2022 all recommended that the curtain walling should be replaced, but the estimated cost of full replacement would be over £600,000.
The Courtyard approached Herefordshire Council, the owners of the building, with the news of the survey results. The Courtyard, a registered charity, was met with a firm response from Council Officers that they are not liable in any way and that the costs were the sole responsibility of The Courtyard as they hold a full repairing lease.
Further research uncovered that when the curtain walling was installed in 1998, it was only designed to last for 25 years. September 2023 marks 25 years since The Courtyard opened, therefore, immediate action needed to be taken and The Courtyard had no option but to begin interim structural works and delay the full replacement of the curtain walling.
The Courtyard has taken legal advice on the question of liability for the work. From that advice and the building surveys that have been carried out, it appeared that the problems with The Courtyard were so fundamental that it should be the Council, as owner and landlord of the premises, which is responsible for the cost of remedying what appear to be fundamental defects in the original design and construction of the curtain walling.
As an independent charity, The Courtyard appealed to Herefordshire Council, as the owners of the building, for support on numerous occasions. However, despite these attempts Herefordshire Council Officers refused to negotiate and matters reached an impasse.
The Courtyard, which has paid £175,000 from its scarce reserves to secure the future of the building, is awaiting communication from Herefordshire Council to discuss payment liability.
For more information about the structural works at The Courtyard, visit courtyard.org.uk/building-structural-works-faq.
