Royal Pavilion
Apartment building benefits from the exceptional thermal performance of OPTIM-R floor insulation
Case Study4 min read
The OPTIM-R Flooring System and Thermaroof TR27 have been installed in floor and roof constructions as part of the multi award-winning transformation of The Piece Hall in Halifax.
The Grade I Listed building first opened in 1779 for the trade in ‘pieces’ of hand-loomed cloth. Following a multi-million-pound transformation project, the building has been reinvented as an outstanding major international cultural destination, which is strengthening the local and regional economy and enhancing local pride. The project was made possible by funding from Calderdale Council, £7 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and support from the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Wolfson Foundation. It’s run by The Piece Hall Trust, an independent charity, to ensure the sustainable future of this magnificent building at the centre of Halifax’s vibrant cultural quarter. The project included the construction of the Council’s new adjoining Central Library and Archives as well as the creation of heritage, leisure, events and retail spaces within the conserved building.
LOCATIONHalifax, UK
ArchitectLDN Architects
Due to its age, the building was entirely uninsulated. Its unusual design, set out around a square, also means it has a significant external envelope relative to its floor size.
To improve the energy performance of the building, it was decided that insulation would be integrated within the building envelope wherever possible
One of the most challenging areas to achieve this was in the basement level. Headroom within this space, which was being converted into a management suite, was already limited. The project team were, therefore, keen to identify a floor insulation solution which could achieve the desired thermal performance with a minimal reduction in floor to ceiling height. This led to the specification of the OPTIM-R Flooring System.
Externally, heritage roofing experts — Ploughcroft — oversaw the sensitive restoration of the building’s roof. This required over 10,000 tiles to be carefully checked and, where necessary, repaired. As part of this work, Thermaroof TR27 was applied to certain areas of the original building roof.
Page updated 18/03/2026
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