Case Study: Assembly Bradford – Breathing New Life into a Heritage Building
Business Overview
Assembly Bradford is a thriving coworking and event space located in a stunning Grade II listed building in the heart of Bradford city centre. Since opening in 2016, Assembly has transformed over 5,500 sq ft of previously underused upper floors into a vibrant, sustainable community hub. Working closely with the property owner and with sustainability advice from Green Street, the team have turned a once forgotten space into a home for freelancers, small businesses, and creative professionals. All while prioritising reuse, collaboration, and environmental responsibility.
The Challenge
Operating within an old heritage building brought unique challenges. The space was cold, energy inefficient, and in need of major investment to make it fit for modern working. Early tenants struggled with draughts, high heating costs, and inconsistent comfort levels – all common issues in older properties. For David and the Assembly team, the goal was clear: to bring the building back to life in a way that was affordable, sustainable, and respectful of its historic character, while creating a community that thrived on shared resources and collaboration.
What They Did
Assembly’s approach was rooted in practicality and creativity. From the beginning, they made deliberate choices to reuse materials, source locally, and collaborate wherever possible, including:
- Reusing and Refurbishing: The fit-out was completed using pre-loved furniture, including office chairs from a refurbishment project, and bespoke desks made from sustainably sourced plywood, fabricated just six miles away to reduce transport emissions.
- Energy Efficiency Upgrades: Replacing old lighting with motion-sensor LED systems and switching to 100% renewable electricity suppliers. In partnership with the landlord, outdated electric heaters were replaced with a central heating system featuring thermostatic controls to reduce waste.
- Building Improvements: After an environmental audit with Green Street in 2022, the team decided to add loft insulation, improved recycling systems, and worked with Bradford Council’s heritage team to install heritage-style double and triple glazed windows throughout the building.
- Community and Collaboration: Assembly’s flexible coworking model means members only pay for the space they need, reducing wasted energy from heating or lighting unused offices. They also host a diverse mix of events and social activities that strengthen community ties, from creative workshops to wellbeing sessions in partnership with local organisations.
The Impact
The improvements have delivered long-term benefits for both the business and its members:
- Energy bills and carbon emissions have fallen thanks to better insulation, efficient heating, and LED lighting.
- The building’s EPC rating improved from E (123) to C (57), reflecting a 66-point improvement in energy performance.
- Occupancy and membership have grown steadily, reaching record levels post-pandemic, with 100% of office spaces and 80% of coworking subscriptions filled.
- The space is now warmer, more comfortable, and more inviting – helping with tenant retention and customer satisfaction even as energy prices rose.
- By reusing an existing building rather than opting for a new build, Assembly has preserved the embodied carbon of a historic structure while giving it a new lease of life.
What Other Businesses Can Learn
Assembly Bradford demonstrates that sustainability and business success can go hand in hand- even in challenging, historic settings. By combining local partnerships, creative reuse, and steady investment, they’ve shown how to make an old building fit for the future. Their story is a reminder that small, practical steps, from better lighting to community-led design, can add up to lasting change.
For any business thinking about where to start, Assembly Bradford’s advice would be: work with what you’ve got, collaborate with others, and make every improvement count.
