MEC has been involved in the redevelopment of Pilot House since 2022, supporting Leicester City Council’s vision to transform a cluster of six historic, interlinked buildings into a vibrant mixed-use destination. The completed scheme has delivered new office space, creative studios, and café/event areas, all while maintaining the character of this important heritage site.
Pilot House holds a rich industrial past, with its buildings previously used for textile machining, storage, and as part of Leicester’s tram operations. The redevelopment has preserved these historical elements while introducing modern interventions that have revitalised the site and surrounding area.
The key challenge was to introduce structural solutions that would bring the buildings up to current standards while carefully integrating them into the heritage setting without compromising their architectural significance.
MEC’s Structures team undertook a full structural assessment at the outset, reviewing the existing floor and roof construction, evaluating load capacities, and identifying where strengthening was required.
We then delivered a wide range of detailed design services including:
Our approach ensured that the completed development is both structurally sound and sympathetic to the historic fabric of the site.
Integrating new structural elements into a heritage environment required careful design. This included the introduction of a steel frame in the courtyard, reinforcement of existing structures, and the design of basement works within a constrained footprint. Each element demanded solutions that respected the historic architecture while providing robust, future-proof functionality.
The development has now been successfully completed, with the historic character of Pilot House preserved and modern infrastructure in place to support its new use. The project has also been recognised for its excellence, winning Commercial Development of the Year at the East Midlands Business Link Brick Awards, further highlighting the success of the collaborative effort between Leicester City Council, Henry Brothers, rg+p, and MEC.
Lance Poole, Associate Structural Engineer at MEC, commented:
“It’s been a fantastic project to be part of. Having seen it from the early stages, it’s brilliant to now see the development completed and in use to the public. The historical character of the site has remained at the heart of the design, and it’s been especially rewarding to integrate complex structural elements, such as the steel framing and basement works, into a heritage setting, in a way that feels both respectful to its history and supportive of its new purpose.”
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