Refurbishment contractor Willmott Dixon Interiors has completed a £12.3 million refurbishment of the National Maritime Museum’s Ocean Court in Greenwich, London, with an extensive upgrade to its iconic glazed roof.
Project Brief
Delivered via the SCAPE Major Works Framework, the project has installed more than 2,550 sq m of solar-protective glazing and Barrisol membrane, resolving long-standing issues with water ingress, solar heat gain and acoustic performance at the Grade I listed building. The works also included enhancements to the underfloor heating and cooling system, ventilation, lighting and electrical services.
The transformed space has now reopened to the public, delivering a significantly improved experience for the museum’s millions of annual visitors.
Over 200 local people were supported throughout the delivery phase, with Willmott Dixon Interiors providing career workshops, university lectures, site visits, and hands-on placements for students and job seekers. These initiatives generated a social return on investment of more than £900,000. In addition, the site team and its supply chain supported Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice with festive donations for local families.
All extracted glazing units were fully recycled in line with the programme’s broader sustainability goals.
Roger Forsdyke, chief operations officer at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “The central court is the much-loved heart of the National Maritime Museum, with many visitors passing beneath its huge glass roof every year. This project was about ensuring the best possible experience for those people, as well as the museum’s staff and the collections they care for. The new glazing we’ve installed not only allows natural light to flood the space, but also significantly improves comfort and acoustic quality.”
Raymond Flanagan, senior capital projects manager, Royal Museums Greenwich, said: “Following completion of the Ocean Court project, the National Maritime Museum now has an improved centre-piece space where we can engage and educate our visitors, tell stories of the ocean and host a variety of events of all sizes. The previous difficulties of over-heating and leaking within the space have been vastly improved, together with the additional acoustic and lighting upgrades. This collaborative approach between various suppliers and stakeholders has been professionally led by Willmott Dixon Interiors and resulted in something everyone can be proud of.”
Mark Robinson, group chief executive, SCAPE, said: “The National Maritime building is an iconic piece of heritage, and these upgrades ensure it meets modern standards while incorporating sustainable features like solar technology. At SCAPE, we are committed to delivering projects that leave a lasting, positive legacy for local communities. We’re proud to have partnered with Willmott Dixon Interiors on this initiative, which has delivered an outstanding £900,000 in social return on investment through targeted social value programmes.”
