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Holding History in Place: Façade Retention & Temporary Works Design

In city centre developments, there’s often a delicate balance between preserving historic architecture and delivering modern, functional buildings. This challenge is nowhere more evident than in projects involving façade retention, the process of preserving the exterior walls of a building while completely redeveloping the structure behind it.

One of the most impressive examples of this approach can be seen in the Heart of the City project in Sheffield, where an ambitious redevelopment was undertaken while retaining the architectural character of key historic frontages.

Heart of the City project in Sheffield

What is Façade Retention?

Façade retention is used when a building’s historic or aesthetic value lies primarily in its exterior. Planning conditions often require these façades to be preserved, while the interior is demolished and rebuilt to modern standards.

The process involves:

  • Surveying the existing façade for structural stability.

  • Designing temporary works to support the façade during demolition and reconstruction.

  • Integrating the retained façade into the new permanent structure.

The Role of Temporary Works Design

Temporary works are often more complex than the permanent structure in façade retention projects. They must:

  • Be structurally independent of the new build during construction.

  • Resist wind loads, vibration, and accidental impacts.

  • Allow space for demolition and new construction activities.

  • Maintain access for the workforce and plant.

In the Heart of the City project, this meant designing steel support frames and bracing systems that could safely hold ornate Victorian façades in place for months while the internal building was completely redeveloped.

Engineering Challenges

Façade retention is not just about propping up a wall. Engineers must consider:

  • Load paths– historic façades weren’t designed to stand alone; new support systems must take over all structural duties temporarily.

  • Foundations for temporary works– heavy façade support frames need stable bases that don’t interfere with the permanent works.

  • Deflection control– even small movements can damage fragile stonework or brickwork.

  • Site logistics– city centre locations, like the Heart of the City, demand clever planning to avoid disruption to traffic and pedestrians.

Using the Heart of the City as a Case Study

In this project, multiple Victorian Façades were retained, requiring:

  • Laser scanning surveysto capture precise geometry.

  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA)to assess stability under temporary load cases.

  • Modular steel façade retention frames designed to be installed in stages to suit the demolition sequence.

  • Careful coordination with the BIM model to ensure the new structural frame aligned perfectly with the retained façades.

Why Façade Retention Matters

Projects like Heart of the City demonstrate that engineering can preserve the best of the past while enabling the future. The preserved façades keep the architectural charm of the area intact, maintaining the city’s heritage value while allowing for modern, sustainable, and functional spaces behind.

Matrix Consulting Engineers’ Role in Façade Retention

At Matrix Consulting Engineers, we combine:

  • Historic structure surveying
  • Temporary works design
  • Permanent works integration
  • BIM coordination
    to deliver façade retention solutions that are both safe and sympathetic to heritage.


Whether it’s supporting a Victorian frontage in a high street regeneration or holding a listed industrial façade during warehouse conversion, we provide complete in-house expertise from survey to detailed design.

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