The challenge

Up until the early 1990s, the Boilerhouse was the source of power for one of the East Midlands’ largest manufacturing facilities that then occupied the site. The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) acquired the original building in 2007 and set about transforming it from an ordinary brick built structure into an architecturally striking, steel-clad events venue that now plays host to conferences, awards ceremonies and exhibitions on a daily basis.

The project itself involved an extensive rebuild and refurbishment programme to transform the original building into three distinct spaces: The Theatre, The Gallery and The Auditorium.

There are many factors that need to be balanced when designing and constructing a striking building that must also meet the very practical requirements of an events venue. In the case of the Boilerhouse, key to achieving this was using products and materials that provided the freedom to explore architecturally creative design whilst meeting fundamental practical considerations such as structural performance, durability, flexibility and cost.

The solution

The Boilerhouse in Grantham, Lincolnshire, features a rainscreen facade system, Trimapanel® insulated wall cladding panels and ComFlor® 225 deep composite flooring system. The end result is a high performance, reliable and versatile structure, built without compromise. 

The IOM3 specified the extensive use of steel throughout the building for both the external building envelope and the internal structures. Steel was the material of choice due to its aesthetic qualities coupled with its structural performance and value for money.