The building had suffered significant structural movement, with pronounced bowing, serious decay to primary timber elements and widespread deterioration to the roof, timber wall construction and external brickwork. Internally, the staircases and floors required careful assessment to balance modern office loading requirements with the need to retain as much original fabric as possible. The chimneys were also in very poor condition, with major cracking and instability, while drainage and contamination constraints added further complexity to the wider scheme.