The BIS shortlisted for AJ Retrofit Revisited award

We are thrilled that The BIS in Hartlepool, our 2019 adaptive re-use of the town's old post office into a creative industries hub, has been shortlisted in the AJ Retrofit Awards in the Retrofit Revisited category.

The BIS was RIBA North East Building of the Year in 2021, and has gone from strength to strength ever since. 

We remain closely involved with the building and are proud that it continues to out-performing expectations, both in terms of occupancy but also in energy efficiency. Best of all, the project has fostered a community who have a real affection for the building. The local authority client now use The BIS as a benchmark for design aspiration, even in the context of challenging viability.

Winners will be announced at the AJ Retrofit & Reuse Awards on Wednesday 10 September 2025 at the Brewery London.

Take a look at our short film, produced by Jim Stephenson in 2024, where we talk to some of the building users about what the project means for them.