The Challenge
The construction work involved retaining 3 Listed Buildings, the demolition and rebuilding of 2 buildings, and the construction of a basement across the entire site. The ground and upper floors within the 5 buildings were connected to create a total of 6 galleries, all of which can be used flexibly in many combinations in order to accommodate both large and small exhibitions. A key issue for the team was to devise a conservation strategy for the development, unlocking the potential for conversion to a gallery and ensuring a structure that could support the load imposed upon it from the art work exhibited.
The whole project required a sensitive and considered approach to both the design and construction, something which was made easier by our appointment to cover the full spectrum of consultancy.
Careful analysis of the loadbearing capacity of the existing buildings was carried out. New steel frames were then installed into the structure with the dual purpose of retaining the new basements formed beneath them and also providing the strength necessary to support the art work displayed within them. Some areas of the gallery floors now have a loadbearing capacity of 30KN/m².
The Outcome
The completed project was very well received by both the public and art world and was awarded the Stirling Prize in 2016 and is now thriving with a varied programme of exhibitions throughout the year.
Following completion Jackson Coles were again appointed as project managers to deliver the Dan Cohen exhibition fit-out, which was delivered to a strict deadline and involved alterations to the galleries to meet the artist’s exhibition brief and narrative.