Value: £640k
Client: Natural History Museum
Programme: 26 weeks
Contract: JCT 2011 Intermediate
Description: Heritage Refurbishment, Alteration and Fit Out
Our project at the Grade 1 Listed Natural History Museum required the removal of the obsolete Ecology Gallery and exposing the beautiful 1870 terracotta designs by Alfred Waterhouse. Our works involved exhibition lighting, UV window protection, flooring and terracotta restoration and were completed to programme for the grand opening of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year display.
Noise and dust nuisance was kept to a minimum – a 5m high dust barrier was installed to separate our works from the thousands of tourists daily. All materials were moved in and out through a second floor window, with vehicle movements between 6am and 9am to avoid the public opening hours.
On removal of the timber flooring cracks were discovered to the structural slab (reputedly caused by bomb damage from the 2nd world war) which required structural repair, and exposed steelwork beams in the floor were cleaned and sealed for fire protection.
New exhibition lighting and track was installed to produce special effects for the Wildlife Photography displays and for adapting to future exhibitions.
Despite considerable unexpected works, Lengard completed the works on programme and agreed to continue supervision post completion, while the Museum’s other contractors installed the exhibition itself.
