Medicines Gallery, Science Museum

Sympathetic Soft Strip 

Client: Paragon Interiors
Project: Medicines Gallery, Science Museum

Brief Description:

Working alongside the Principal Contractor, Paragon, KpH undertook this Sympathetic Strip Out and Enabling project within the popular Science Museum. The works, which were for the purpose of facilitating the installation of a new Pendulum Lift, took place in the Medicine Gallery on Level 1.

KpH successfully minimised disruption to the Museum and enabled it to stay open for visitors during the works. This was achieved by carefully managing M&E Isolations to remove redundant services, without losing power to the open/public areas of the building. KpH also removed a large area of the suspended ceiling, with Balustrade and glass cabinets around the Atrium, in a live area of the Gallery by completing the works outside of Museum opening hours.

The Project Team’s biggest challenge was to preserve part of the Gallery flooring, which was successfully protected and removed to a safe storage facility. Due to unknown factors relating to this task, a net was installed around the ground level slab to protect the public and exhibits below from the risk of any falling dust or debris.

During the works, Asbestos was discovered within rooms spanning from the Basement to Level 3 (including the Roof). KpH adapted quickly to this discovery and were able to coordinate the removal of this Asbestos safely to a licenced facility for disposal.

KpH had to work closely with other trades on site during this project, so communication and coordination of these work-streams were key. For 6 weeks KpH installed protections around the exhibits during closing hours in order for other Contractors to work safely around them.

Scope of Works

The Strip Out works in the Basement through to Level 3 (within the Medicine Gallery) included the removal of:

  • 2No Mezzanine Floors;
  • Plant within the Roof;
  • Concrete Beams.

Additional works included:

  • the creation of slab openings to each floor to facilitate installation of a new Double Pendulum Lift;
  • builders work package to lay a new floor slab on Level 3;
  • installation of the Lift Pit;
  • blocking up of existing doorways.

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