Historic city centre building to be refurbished into modern office space

An 18th-century grade two-listed former chapel in Lancaster is to be transformed for the modern workplace by its current owner.

Chiptech, an assistive technology provider, has announced the beginning of a major refurbishment of its historic Palatine Hall offices in Dalton Square, one of the city's most recognisable and cherished public spaces.

Representing a significant investment, the project will carefully restore and modernise Palatine Hall to meet the demands of today's working world, while preserving and celebrating the architectural character that has made it a Lancaster landmark for more than a century.

Originally built in 1798, the building later became a celebrated concert hall and music venue in the early 1900s, known as the Hippodrome and Opera House, before becoming the County Cinema in 1921. It served as a local theatre until its closure in December 1956, was then converted into office space in 1983, and officially designated a grade-two-listed building in 1989. Since 2019, the building has been the UK and European headquarters of Chiptech.

The project will involve extensive structural repairs, sympathetic interior renovation, and the installation of modern facilities. The work is being undertaken in close consultation with HPA Chartered Architects, Form Interior, Duckett Building Services, Pinington, and Lancaster City Council to ensure the building's listed status, architectural character, and historical integrity are fully respected throughout.

David Hammond, CEO of Chiptech UK and Europe, said: "This building is part of Lancaster's story, and we feel a real sense of pride and responsibility as its latest custodians. We want to look after it properly and create something that will service both our team and the city for many years to come.

"The working environment plays such an important part in creating a great, collaborative culture. We have worked hard to design a space that will work brilliantly for our team today, while giving us the flexibility to continue growing and evolving in the future.

"We are immensely proud of the impact our amazing team have in helping to keep vulnerable people safe and independent. This project give them an inspiring new work home in which to innovate, develop new technology, and continue that vital work. It is an incredibly exciting time for Chiptech and for everyone involved in modernising and preserving Palatine Hall."

The refurbished building will provide Chiptech’s team with a contemporary and accessible working environment, including improved energy efficiency, upgraded accessibility features, and the restoration of period details such as original stonework and window cornicing, many of which have fallen into disrepair over recent decades.

The evolving design will deliver a flexible, future-proofed workspace across the building's 12,500 square feet, accommodating office areas, storage, operational and testing facilities, and training suites. Layouts have been developed to allow the building to adapt over time, supporting Chiptech's continued growth and operational needs.

Zoë Hooton, specialist conservation architect and director at Lancaster-based HPA Chartered Architects, the project’s appointed contractors, said: "This project has required a careful balance between conserving Palatine Hall’s historic character and adapting it to meet the needs of a modern workplace. Through detailed research and a sensitive design approach, we have been able to retain and celebrate important architectural features, whilst still ensuring the building remains functional for years to come.

"It has been a highly collaborative process, working alongside Chiptech and the wider project team, to develop solutions that respect the building’s heritage. We are very proud of the final designs and what this will bring to Lancaster city centre."