EXCHANGE PLACE, MIDDLESBROUGH

Work is well underway on the façade conservation works at 2-3 Exchange Place, Middlesbrough, a Grade II listed building, built in the 1870’s and first listed in the late 1970’s. The conservation element of the works is being part funded by Historic England and Middlesbrough Council via a High Street Heritage Action Zone Grant. This is one of the first projects to commence work in

This grand Victorian building, next to Middlesbrough railway station, was in urgent need of restoration. Located in the town’s historic quarter, the site once stood at the heart of Middlesbrough’s booming manufacturing and trade scene during the late 19th century. Like many nearby properties, it sat empty and partly derelict for years. Most recently, the building served as a vodka bar and dance club. Today, it sits within a key area of the town’s regeneration efforts.

Built from brick and stone with decorative encaustic tile dressings, the structure features a Welsh slate roof. The ground floor includes segmental stone-arched windows with granite colonnettes, square pedestals, and capitals. The first floor has similar details, with round arcading and paired casement windows under a shared arch. An ornamental Celtic cross roundel adds character. The second floor showcases a mix of single, double, and triple casement windows, again framed with colonnettes and moulded stonework. A large gabled dormer holds four round-headed windows. Additional features include moulded sill courses and a bracketed eaves cornice.

The first phase of restoration focuses on making the building weathertight and preserving its historic charm. Commerce Chambers Limited leads the project, aiming to transform the site into premium serviced office space. This development will complement their nearby Commerce House offices in Exchange Square. Plans also include retail or restaurant units on the ground floor.

MAW is acting as Quantity Surveyor for the project.