Key takeaways
6.8m
visitors welcomed annually
6,000
steel sections in the Great Court Roof
37,000
meters cubed of excavated material
- The museum’s largest redevelopment in 260-year history, including a laboratory, logistics centre, temporary exhibitions, and gallery.
- A total of 3,312 panes of glass were used to create the Great Court Roof, requiring a 20m high scaffold and 593 props.
- Across the 6-year period of construction, the museum able to remain open with minimal disruption through expert care and delivery.
Having successfully teamed up with the British Museum on the Great Court well over a decade ago – appreciating the unique, sensitive needs of a cultural institution – in 2009 we were brought on board as the WCEC’s construction manager.
The WCEC presented a thrilling challenge. With more than 6.8 million visitors each year and an unparalleled world collection, shutting public spaces for renovation was simply unthinkable - meticulous planning was vital.
Using our expertise, the museum remained open and disruption was kept to a minimum. We embarked on weekly inspections, ensured vibration levels were safe and employed a drop reach excavator just out of sight – the first in the UK.
With sustainability and energy efficiency paramount, we sought to reduce carbon emissions not just in the WCEC, but throughout the entire Bloomsbury site.
