Heritage Restoration and Fire Protection Design. The Conversion of St James Church

Feb 8

I used to ride past St James Church on my way to and from school. For more than 20 years, the building sat dormant, a familiar landmark slowly falling quiet. To return years later as part of the team contributing to its restoration, delivering the fire protection system design for its conversion, was genuinely rewarding.

The transformation of St James Church into the Esplanade Apartments is a strong example of how heritage buildings can be brought back into use without losing their identity.

Designing within a heritage context

Heritage conversions present a specific set of fire protection challenges.

Buildings of this age were never designed for modern residential use. Occupant profiles change, layouts evolve, and new services must be integrated with care.

Fire protection design in these environments requires technical judgement and restraint. Systems must perform reliably while respecting the existing structure and architectural detail.

Supporting adaptive reuse

The success of adaptive reuse projects depends on systems that work quietly in the background.

Fire protection plays a critical role in allowing heritage buildings to safely support new uses, whether residential, cultural, or public. When design is handled carefully, safety and performance can be achieved without visual or structural compromise.

Long-term performance matters

Fire protection systems installed during heritage restoration are expected to perform for decades.

That makes early coordination essential. Design decisions made during restoration often remain in place for the life of the building. System selection, routing, and integration must consider long-term maintenance and future occupancy.

This is where experience and early specialist input matter most.

Preserving the past while supporting the future

Seeing St James Church re-enter daily life as the Esplanade Apartments is a reminder of what thoughtful collaboration can achieve.

Blending history, architecture, and modern living requires care across every discipline. Fire protection is no exception.

Projects like this demonstrate how sensitive design can protect heritage assets while allowing them to evolve and remain part of the city for generations to come.

Fortis Fire provides specialist fire protection design for heritage and adaptive reuse projects.
Talk to us about protecting sensitive buildings with confidence.