Retrofit Meets is an in-person series of panel events that connects people through themes and topics relevant to the deep retrofit of homes at scale. Produced as part of Retrofit 23 and taking place on Wednesday evenings at the Building Centre, this series showcases research and ideas on the residential retrofit challenge. The panels feature guest speakers presenting a project or provocation, followed by a Q&A session with the audience. Join us for these thought-provoking sessions and meet and share with others involved in the retrofit puzzle.

In this session, we hear from architects and built environment professionals involved in retrofitting heritage homes. Case studies and resources are presented before we open for discussion about the context of conservation areas and retrofit.

Robert Prewett of Prewett Bizley: “Historic Buildings and Deep Retrofit”
Christopher Procter of ACAN: “Conservation Areas & Heritage: Possibilities for Retrofit”

Hugh McGilveray of Eckersley O'Callaghan: “The hierarchy of facade intervention”

Prewett Bizley Architects (PBa) have completed a number of deep retrofits to buildings within conservation areas, including listed buildings (some of which are included in the Private Housing section of the main Retrofit 23 show.) In his presentation, Robert Prewett looks at the techniques used and measured data that demonstrates 80% energy and carbon reduction.

Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN) have produced the publication, "The Climate Emergency Conservation Area Toolkit" available on their website and on display in the Retrofit 23 exhibition. Christopher Procter discuss the research developed for this toolkit, such as the latest thinking on building element detailing for retrofit such as windows, walls and roofs, and the changes to the planning system required.

Eckersley O’Callaghan are structural and facade engineers with expertise in adaptive reuse and retrofit of buildings. Hugh McGilveray discuss the work he’s been doing with the CWCT (Centre for Window and Cladding Technology) and their sustainability committee to create a much-needed guide to facade refurbishment, focusing on good practise for establishing refurbishment strategies and how to consider the value of existing materials/systems against the performance benefits of new systems.