Replacement Rooflight at The Adams Building, Nottingham

A Sensitive Heritage Restoration

The Adams Building in Nottingham is one of the city’s most significant heritage assets. Constructed between 1855 and 1875 to designs by T. C. Hine, the building was originally a lace warehouse and now forms part of the Lace Market Conservation Area and is used by Nottingham College.

It is Grade II* listed and celebrated for its intricate cast-iron structure, decorative detailing, and contribution to Nottingham’s industrial history.

In 2024, Nottingham College, together with CPMG Architects, embarked on a programme of retrofit works to improve the building’s sustainability while safeguarding its historic character.

The plans included connection to the city’s district heating system, replacement of outdated lighting with modern energy-efficient LEDs, and the careful introduction of other energy-saving measures.

Bespoke Conservation Rooflights

As part of this sensitive refurbishment, Stella Rooflight was commissioned to design and manufacture a bespoke conservation rooflight that could provide additional natural light while complementing the building’s historic fabric.

The rooflight would replace a dated single glazed, lead covered roof window, which had begun to perish on the inside and provided little in terms of thermal performance.

Stella designed and manufactured a bespoke new rooflight from marine-grade 316L stainless steel, chosen for its durability and long-term resistance to corrosion.

Designed as a fixed, non-opening unit, it was built to an internal rafter size of 1,220mm by 1,520mm and configured with a single outer frame divided by three vertical and one horizontal glazing bars to create eight individual double-glazed panes.

The external frame was finished in a textured black marine paint to blend seamlessly with the surrounding roof materials, while the interior was lined with American Ash timber to bring warmth and refinement to the internal space.

A bespoke flashing kit was produced by Stella to ensure a precise, neat finish with the slate roofing.

Thermally Efficient Glazing

The glazing specification was of the highest performance standards, with a toughened 4mm SKN176 self-clean outer pane, paired with a 16mm argon-filled black warm edge spacer and a 6.8mm laminated inner pane with polished edges.

This combination provided excellent thermal performance, enhanced durability, and ease of maintenance, helping to improve the building’s energy efficiency while reducing the reliance on artificial lighting.

Installation was carried out with heritage sensitivity in mind and the rooflight, with its slim steel profile, now sits flush to the roofline, as per the strict Conservation requirements.

The fixed design avoided the need for additional mechanisms, reducing the visual and physical impact on the fabric of the building. Internally the American Ash liner offered a sympathetic and elegant finish.

High Performance Solution for Important Heritage Building

This bespoke solution illustrates the role that carefully considered rooflights can play in conservation-led refurbishment projects.

By using materials such as 316L stainless steel and American Ash, Stella Rooflight was able to deliver a product that aligned with both the building’s historic industrial character and the demands of modern performance standards.

The glazing specification ensured excellent energy efficiency and thermal control, supporting the wider retrofit strategy.

The result is a rooflight that enhances natural daylight, improves thermal performance, and contributes to the comfort of building users, all while respecting the integrity and visual harmony of the Adams Building.

This project demonstrates how Stella Rooflight’s bespoke conservation rooflights can deliver discreet, high-performing solutions for some of the UK’s most important heritage buildings, balancing the requirements of sustainability with the principles of conservation.