The Lighthouse Project involved the restoration and repurposing of the Grade II listed St Michael’s Church in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne. Designed by Bradley McClure Architects and delivered by Eden London UK Ltd, the project transformed the disused church into a youth and community hub with music studios, art spaces and flexible facilities for charities and community groups. A contemporary timber framed extension provides a new reception and dedicated youth space, while the wider development includes landscaped play areas and a sports pitch.
IQ Projects was appointed to design, manufacture and install the specialist internal glazing package. This included bespoke glazed partitions around the central nave, shaped structural glazing within the existing archways and a large glazed partition across the altar. The new glazing divides the historic interior into practical spaces while preserving views through the building and maintaining the visual character of the original stone architecture.
Design Drivers: Heritage, Flexibility and Visual Continuity
The project required a sensitive approach to adapting the listed church for a completely new purpose. The open interior needed to accommodate activities for children, young people and families, including music, art, study and community programmes. Separate spaces were therefore required without losing the scale and visual continuity of the original nave.
The existing archways, stone pillars and irregular geometry meant that standard partition systems could not be used. Each glazed screen needed to follow the profile of the historic architecture without cutting or altering the stone columns. Transparency was also important, allowing the new partitions to provide separation while retaining long views through the church and keeping the original arches visible.
Bespoke Glazed Partitions Within the Nave
A series of glazed partitions was individually designed to fit around the church arches and stone pillars. A full laser survey of the interior was undertaken before manufacture, providing the accuracy needed to resolve each glazed screen against the existing structure. This approach allowed the frames and shaped glass to follow the individual profiles of the columns without requiring alterations to the listed stonework.
The lower sections incorporate slim framed aluminium internal glazing systems finished in RAL 9005 Black. Depending on the location and function of each space, these include fixed glazing, sliding panels or a combination of the two. Shaped panes of clear toughened safety glass complete the upper sections of the arches, using structural silicone joints and discreet single point fixings to minimise visible support.
Large Glazed Altar Partition
A large glazed partition was installed across the church altar to provide flexibility between different activity and event spaces. The lower section comprises a five pane folding glass door with shaped fixed sidelights, creating an opening approximately 4.6 metres wide. The doors allow the areas to be divided for smaller activities or brought together when a larger shared space is required.
Above the doors, the arched opening contains five shaped structural glass panels supported by structural glass beams. The tallest pane measures approximately 4.1 metres high and the heaviest weighs around 120kg. Steel bolts through the glass secure the panes, while a specialist glass lifter was used to position them safely during installation.
The resulting structural glass screen appears almost frameless within the altar arch. Its transparency preserves the original proportions and stone detailing of the church while providing the practical separation required by the building’s new community use.
Decorative Glass for Community Spaces
Clear toughened single glazed safety glass was specified throughout the internal package. Following installation, the client added decorative printed films to selected side partitions, introducing colour alongside reeded and frosted effects. These bespoke transfers add a distinctive visual layer to the glazing while helping individual areas achieve different levels of privacy.
The combination of clear and decorated glass allows the partitions to respond to the needs of different community spaces without concealing the wider church interior. Fixed screens, sliding panels and folding doors provide varying levels of separation and flexibility for everyday programmes and larger events.
Project Details
Project Type: Restoration and conversion of a Grade II listed church into a youth and community hub
Location: Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Architect: Bradley McClure Architects Ltd
Main Contractor: Eden London UK Ltd
Glazing Contractor: IQ Projects
Primary Systems: slim aluminium framed partitions; Invisio structural glazing; shaped frameless effect glass screens; folding and sliding glass doors
Glazing Specification: Clear toughened single glazed safety glass; shaped structural glass with silicone joints and discreet single point fixings; decorative printed films applied by the client to selected partitions
Key Elements: Bespoke glazed partitions manufactured following a laser survey; five pane folding altar door with shaped sidelights; altar partition opening approximately 4571mm wide; five shaped structural glass panels above the altar, with the tallest approximately 4115mm high; structural glass beams and through glass steel fixings
Finish: Aluminium framing in RAL 9005 Black
Outcome
The Lighthouse Project demonstrates how bespoke internal glazing can divide a listed church into flexible community spaces without concealing its historic architecture. The individually shaped screens respond closely to the original arches and columns, while transparent structural glass preserves the scale and visual continuity of the nave.
Sliding and folding doors allow the interior to accommodate different activities, and the decorative films added by the client give selected spaces an individual character. Together, the framed and frameless glazing creates a carefully integrated contemporary layer within the restored church.
