Nottingham-based Focus is overseeing the removal, storage, cleaning and conservation of 50,000 artefacts from Hull’s Maritime Museum as part of a £30.2m project to restore Hull’s five key maritime assets.
With 800 years of seafaring history to be proud of, this ambitious restoration project across the city, jointly funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will show Hull in a new light. Not only restoring Hull’s five main maritime assets, the project will also have a positive effect for the whole city - making it a more attractive and invigorating place to live and visit.
Focus is NEC project manager for the overall scheme and is currently project managing the decanting of the vast collection from the Maritime Museum.
It involves careful treatment of the 50,000 artefacts, including transportation, storage, cleaning and conservation, as well as management of multi-level and inter-dependent relationships with contractors and stakeholders, and careful planning regarding movement of the ships to their new homes.
The museum’s collection is being packed and removed ahead of refurbishment. Upcoming milestones on the project include appointment of key contractors to carry out restoration on the two ships and refurbishment to the museum. Due to complete in 2024 subject to unforeseen circumstances, this major project will make Hull one of the country’s leading maritime destinations.
Originally Hull’s Dock Offices, the Grade 2* Listed building became a museum in 1975 and is still a popular destination today with record numbers recorded during UK City of Culture 2017. The restoration project will provide the city with the world-class museum that it deserves through; external/ internal conservation works, internal structural alterations, improved visitor access, rooftop access enabling visitors to enjoy panoramic views of the city and an improved learning and events programme.
As well as contributing to education, skills development, jobs creation, apprenticeships, internships and extensive volunteering opportunities, the project’s key aims are to also:
- Increase visitor numbers and reach wider audiences
- Offer learning opportunities to schools
- Contribute to the local economy
- Offer large scale events
Exciting changes are also being made at other sites across the city, including the Dock Office Chambers, the North End Shipyard, Dock Office Row and Queen’s Gardens.
“Focus is very pleased to be involved in helping the Council deliver this transformational project that builds on the success of Hull’s 2017 UK City of Culture,” said Mike Lee, Associate Project Manager at Focus.
Councillor Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “Hull is steeped in maritime history and it’s in our DNA. It’s only right we preserve our maritime treasures, giving them a new lease of life and showcasing them and the many stories to the world for our residents and visitors alike.”
Focus is a multi-disciplinary company offering a range of services across different sectors, with offices in London, Nottingham and Leicester. Focus divides its services into three sections – Create, Deliver and Assess - and offers funding, business planning and economic development through the Create division, and quantity surveying, project management and building surveying through the Deliver department. The firm’s Assess team advises on sustainable buildings, building physics, compliance and planning, and on-site testing.
To find out more about the project and to keep up to date with its progress please visit https://maritimehull.co.uk/
To find out more about Focus and the services we offer please visit: https://www.focus-consultants.com/