The Florence Institute, known locally as The Florrie, is the earliest remaining building in Britain to be constructed as a boys' recreational youth club.

Much of the damaged structure was preserved and the building fabric restored, with new insertions converting the facility for modern use. Applying a wide range of sustainable first principles enabled the building to achieve a BREEAM Very Good rating.

The timber trusses in the main hall were exposed to the weather for many years. Replacement trusses were constructed on site using the original metal straps and some of the original timbers where they could be retained.

The original copper dome was removed, reportedly during WWII. To reinstate it, Purcell referred to the initial design details recorded in a single photograph taken around the turn of the 20th century.

The building was restored and reordered with the removal of late 20th Century insertions and extensive repairs to the remaining building fabric.

The new building layout reduces the number of room-within-room arrangements to maximise the use of natural sunlight.

Location: Toxteth, Liverpool
Client: The Florence Institute Trust Ltd & Merseyside Building Preservation Trust
Listing status: Grade II listed
Awards: IHBC North West Award for ConservationRIBA North West Award & Building Conservation AwardRIBA North West Conservation AwardNorth West Regional Construction Heritage AwardCivic Trust Community Recognition Award RICS National Building Conservation Award
Funding: Lottery Fund, ERDF, Tudor Trust, Architectural Heritage Fund
Construction value: £6m