Stopford Park is a new residential development based on the site of the former Stockport College campus. The scheme will feature two new apartment buildings while a third features the adaptive reuse of an existing structure.
This repurposed building, known as the Torkington building, is a mid-century concrete-frame structure and is set to be repurposed into modern residential apartments. With efforts currently ongoing in Stockport to regenerate the town, the adaptive reuse of the Torkington building will provide good-quality homes in a fantastic, up-and-coming central location.
As renaissance, we always look to deliver efficient, construction-focused designs that safeguard the building’s integrity, reduce waste, and ensure a smooth build process. From initial investigations to on-site delivery, we’re committed to solving the right problems and helping our client realise their vision.
This is how we’re achieving that at Stopford Park’s Torkington Building.
Background & objectives
Originally constructed in the 1950s as a college facility, the Torkington Building stands five storeys high and is characterised by a reinforced concrete frame with ribbed floor slabs.
The client’s needs included:
- Retention of the existing structure, minimising demolition waste and harvesting the already invested carbon
- Conversion for residential use, optimising internal layouts
- The addition of two extra storeys, increasing area capacity without compromising structural integrity.
The adaptive reuse of the project is hugely important in the context of the wider scheme. It offered a two-pronged benefit of preserving a piece of The towns skyline while also significantly reducing the carbon footprint that would otherwise be generated by a full demolition and rebuild.
This approach was a great way to improve viability, reduce waste and deliver tangible carbon reductions. However, there were several challenges to overcome to achieve the right result.
Investigating the existing frame
Challenge: At the outset, we specified detailed measured surveys and intrusive investigations to understand the extent of the building’s original reinforcement. These early assessments revealed low-strength concrete columns and unexpectedly thin ribbed slabs in certain areas. This raised questions about the building’s ability to accommodate the required residential loadings.
Remedy: We conducted extensive back-analysis and load checks to identify exactly where strengthening was needed, and targeted specific structural interventions. In some cases, the team adopted carbon fibre wrapping to boost column capacity without adding excessive weight. Where floors required extra support—such as plant rooms—we introduced localised steel framing to reinforce critical zones, again minimising both material usage and embodied carbon.
2. Extending the building
Challenge: Our client’s plan to add two extra storeys intensified the structural demands on the 1950s concrete frame. As structural engineers, the question for us became, how can we accommodate these new floors without overstressing the columns, slabs, and foundations originally designed for lighter educational uses?
Remedy: Working closely with the architectural team to ensure the new floors met headroom requirements and aligned with proposed apartment layouts, we designed an optimised steel framework that transferred additional loads efficiently into the existing structure. By determining applied loads early in the design process, this allowed us to refine the steel configuration. We balanced the building’s extended capacity with the practicalities of on-site construction, thereby reducing the likelihood of costly retrofits later in the process.
3. Maintaining lateral stability
Challenge: To suit modern living spaces, the interior layout required new openings in areas that previously acted as shear walls. Enlarging corridors and creating new doorways can undermine a building’s lateral stability, leaving it vulnerable to horizontal forces such as wind.
Remedy: We compensated for any reduction in lateral stiffness by specifying steel bracing in carefully coordinated locations. By positioning this bracing where it had the least impact on room sizes and circulation, we preserved the openness of the new design. Finally, we used a rigorous analytical approach to confirm that the reconfigured building could handle lateral loads effectively, even with more extensive openings than originally envisaged.
Sustainability & community impact
The adaptive reuse approach taken on the project is a huge carbon saver. All the carbon embodied in the Torkinton building in the 1950s has been preserved, ensuring it isn’t wasted. A new build approach wouldn’t just waste this already invested carbon, it would necessitate the embodiment of a significant amount of carbon for the new structure.
The adaptive reuse approach:
- Reduced environmental impact: Reduced new material is required, lowering the development’s overall carbon emissions and minimising demolition waste
- Preservation of urban fabric: Retaining this familiar local landmark supports Stockport’s ongoing urban regeneration
- Positive economic and community impact: Modern, well-designed apartments breathe new life into an established neighbourhood, contributing to the area’s social and economic resurgence.
We’re firm believers in designs that serve both current and future generations. Our work on the Torkington Building pairs a sustainable mindset with a commitment to ensuring this redeveloped structure contributes positively to Stockport’s townscape now and in the future.
The bottom line
By investigating the existing structure in detail, deploying carefully targeted strengthening measures, and integrating new floors without compromising stability, we’ve demonstrated how considered engineering solutions can positively contribute to adaptive re-use, slash carbon emissions, and deliver valuable new residential space.
As works progress on the Stopford Park site, we look forward to project completion and a new community of homes becoming available to the people of Stockport.
