Willmott Dixon Construction has selected REL Electrical to deliver a £1.1m M&E contract as part of a £7.75m project, which will transform an historic town hall into a museum and art gallery.
The refurbishment of the Grade II listed building in the centre of St Albans will see the ground floor turned into a reception and exhibition space, including a shop and café. On the first floor, the former assembly rooms will be refurbished into space for public events including heritage and art exhibitions. The newly constructed basement will incorporate an ambience-controlled gallery for hosting national and international exhibitions.
REL will provide all the mechanical and electrical services for the three-storey building, including installing underfloor heating, boiler plants, ventilation, air conditioning, colour-changing lighting, and advanced security systems.
Simon Ramage, operations director at Willmott Dixon, commented: “REL has worked with us on several projects from the outset, proving that it has the in-house design expertise to deliver M&E solutions which reduce costs and maximise efficiency.
“This is a complex project, which requires previous experience of working in historic buildings, so REL is well positioned to ensure it’s a success.”
Toby Buckley, managing director of REL said: “This contract follows our work as pre-construction M&E designers for the refurbishment. Given the building’s listed status and as it is in a conservation area, we had to work closely with the architectural, planning and heritage consultants to develop the design, ensuring modern services can be integrated into the historic property.
“We’re pleased to be working with Willmott Dixon again, helping to transform this fascinating building into a fantastic new facility for St Albans.”
Designed by John McAslan + Partners, the new museum is expected to open in early 2018.