Ian Brewerton Architecture

A brief selection of schemes in which Ian Brewerton was closely involved prior to setting up his own practice.

Stockport Magistrates Courthouse; 1987 to 1989; £5.5M
New build courthouse consisting of 12 courts, administrative and secure accommodation, located directly under Manchester Airport flight path. Complex heating and ventilation requirements arose from the need to prevent aircraft and traffic noise penetration.

Greater Manchester Police: Refurbishment of "J" Division HQ:1991 to 1992: £1M
Complete refurbishment of a working divisional police HQ with minimal disruption, including complex co-ordination of engineering services; remodelling of public enquiry area; construction of new charge area and construction of new secure accommodation. Completed on time and on budget without contractual claims (or escapes from custody).

Bramall Hall
A number of small scale projects carried out at this Grade I listed mansion house including conservation of the timber framed structure and restoration of the original Kitchen, Scullery and Coldroom. These areas had been used for a number of years as storage and an Education Room. The restoration work involved the aquisition and installation of a working kitchen range (working from photographic evidence of the the original), reconstruction of a connecting doorway from archæological evidence, and refurbishment of the original but neglected scullery and coldroom.

Lancashire Hill Redevelopment Phases I to III: 1992 to 1996: £14.6M
Rainscreen overcladding; internal refurbishment; selective demolition; external environmental works; concierge security and access control systems; and provision of new Estate Management Office, to a run down estate of deck access flats. Phase IV comprises similar work to the two adjacent 21 storey blocks. Vacant possession was only available on a block by block basis imposing special requirements for safety and security. The work was part-funded by the DoE's Estate Action Programme, imposing demanding expenditure targets - which were met.

Lyme Hall: Restoration of the Grand Staircase Ceiling: 1993: £100,000
This project, partly funded by English Heritage, was to stabilise and restore the richly moulded and decorated ceiling to the principal staircase of this grade I listed mansion which is owned by the National Trust but was at the time managed by SMBC. The defects were discovered during the 1992 Quinquennial Survey. The work was carried out on a fixed price (limited fluctuations) basis and was completed within budget. The work included enabling and preliminary stabilisation works while retaining use of the staircase by the public; a photogrammatic survey; measures to protect the adjacent library and saloon (by Grinling Gibbons); external enveloping and removal of the roof to provide access; and assistance in the preparation of an exhibition about the works.

Restoration of Chadkirk Chapel: 1994 to 1995: £146,000 (45% from European Regional Development Fund)
This listed redundant chapel in a rural setting passed into public ownership under a previous UDC and transferred to Stockport MBC on local government reorganisation in 1974. Much of the work carried out was to undo an unsympathetic restoration carried out in the 1970's. In addition the structure required partial underpinning (involving an archæological "dig" and re-internment of 32 burials in the nave of the building); gravity grouting of the stone rubble walls; formation of a ring beam at eaves level to counteract eaves spreading; steel and timber repairs to the roof structure and bell tower; and a separate fitting out contract providing visitor and interpretative facilities.

Large Scale Combined Heat & Power: £720,000 (25% funded by the DoE "Green House" Programme)
The DoE Green House Programme provided part funding for innovative and cost effective measures related to energy efficiency. The successful funding bid prepared by Ian Brewerton was for the installation of large scale Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants at three extensive medium/high rise Council estates. These generate electricity as well as heat - the electricity is used on site and the surplus "exported" to the electricity supply company, or in one case to the adjacent civic complex by means of a private main, where it helps to reduce vulnerability to maximum demand tariff. Significant cost savings are being achieved and in the case of the largest of the installations, heavy fuel oil firing has been substantially replaced by gas with consequent reductions in sulphur emission in addition to CO2 and NOx reductions accruing from increased efficiency.

"The Mighty Wurlitzer": 1996: £215,000 funded entirely by LTOT and Lottery Funds)
In 1996 it became clear that the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ relocated to the Free Trade Hall some years ago would need a new home following the closure of the Free Trade Hall. Stockport was approached by the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust, and Property Services Department acted informally as project advocates, establishing the feasibility of relocating the organ in the Town Hall Ballroom at no net cost to the Council. The organ - the largest of its kind in the UK - has been removed from the FTH for restoration.

Managerial Experience

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council from 1988 to 1997

Day-to-day management of the Property Services Department.
Introduction of Computer Aided Design
Development and Implementation of a Quality Management System to BS EN ISO 9001 (formerly BS 5750 Pt 1). The system operates on a multi-disciplinary basis. It was submitted to and accredited by BSI Quality Assurance at the first attempt in May 1994, and is subject to twice yearly surveillance visits.
Membership of the Council's Capital Programme Group, including;
Preparation of a successful bid for capital Challenge funding for Energy Efficiency across all sectors of the local economy (Local Authority buildings, small businesses, Housing Associations, owner occupiers, transport);
Management of work to provide a realistic need and cost evaluation of outstanding major repair / refitting requirements across all Committee areas.

Manchester City Council to 1988

Management of a specialist team carrying out domestic heating and energy conservation work with annual values up to £6.5M per year in approximately 30 contracts per year.
Management of a two year in-house study, funded via the Building Research Energy Conservation Unit on behalf of the Energy Efficiency Office on Energy Efficiency in new build housing. The project was highly commended in the TESCO/LAMSAC TEAM awards 1987.
Member of the management team of a the first large scale field trials of Domestic Condensing Boilers, in collaboration with UMIST; condensing boilers have subsequently become standard technology
Member of the design team and participant in monitoring of Manchester's first Low Energy Housing (1981).