Albert Hall, Manchester
Designed by WJ Morley this grade 2 listed building was built in 1910 for the
Wesleyan Mission and became the Methodist Central Hall.
It was designed in an eclectic style with baroque and gothic elements and contains a lot of floral decoration in the plasterwork. In order to use the stunning hall, above the former Brannigans bar, as a concert venue the floral panelled ceiling needed to be removed to allow reinforced steel joists to be installed to support the upper floor.
Plaster Ceiling Renovation
Our job was to restore the ceiling to its original state and we did this by taking silicon rubber moulds in-situ prior to removal, and then painstakingly re-instated the floral plasterwork.
The venue was integral to the Manchester International Festival in July 2013 and
is then closing to re-open as a bar and restaurant in 2014.
Gallery
One of twelve original floral ceiling panels measuring 6m x 4m on the ground floor. 
A copy of the panel had to be taken in order to replicate. This was done by painting each individual mould with the panel with layer upon layer of silicon rubber. 
Once the silicon had set a plaster backing case was applied so when the mould was removed the shape of the cast would remain. 
The silicon mould of the centre piece once removed from the ceiling. 
Other examples of silicon moulds of various parts of the floral panel 
The centre of each of the panels was removed, a reinforced steel joist inserted to support the floor above, and the beam plasterboarded and skimmed. 
Showing another panel with more damage to outer walls. 
A bigger perspective of the areas to be re-instated 
Once new plaster moulds were cast off in our workshop, they were painstakingly re-fitted to blend in with the original panel. 
You can clearly see where the new moulds have been inserted into the existing panel. 
The completed panel of one shown previously 
A panel with one half painted 
A fully painted panel whereby you can no longer see the join where the original meets the new. 
A close up of the centre of the floral panel showing the deep relief of the mould. 
Showing the completed panels over the bar area. 
A greater perspective of the restored plasterwork. 
A beam moulding being fitted, prior to applying the finishing touches 
The finished beam after painting.