The Bank Buildings, Belfast

Designed by the architect WH Lynn in 1899 on the site of an earlier structure, the Bank Buildings in Belfast is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Following a devastating fire in 2018 the building was completely refurbished and restored to its former grandeur. Due to the building’s historic nature, a sensitive approach was taken by the design team when it came to deciding on insulation. Through collaboration with Ecological Building Systems, who employed hygrothermal simulation and advanced thermal bridge assessment, it became evident that Calsitherm, a lime-based insulation system, provided numerous distinct advantages when installed on the internal side of the thick solid walls. With an A1 fire rating, the Calsitherm system offered the necessary additional resilience for this Grade B1 listed building. Recognizing the critical importance of installation quality, Ecological Building Systems also organized bespoke training for the lime plastering subcontractor responsible for implementing the insulation strategy.