The New Design Museum

Kensington High Street, London.

Client: The Design Museum

Contractor: Willmott Dixon Interiors Ltd

Value: £23m

My Role: As Senior Principal Surveyor I initially assisted the Pre-Construction Department on the competitive tender, upon successfully securing the project, I then lead the commercial team for Willmott Dixon.

The project itself was the redevelopment of the 1960’s Commonwealth Institute building in Kensington, into the new Design Museum. The works included the installation of 45 tonnes of steel to form a mezzanine floor, installation of a two storey lecture theatre, modern exhibition spaces, a high specification restaurant, VIP members bar, shops and a spectacular entrance and general spaces. Extensive mechanical systems were installed to ensure the climate within the museum remained constant so as not to damage the exhibits in any way.

My role as the commercial lead was to ensure the contract administration and procurement was undertaken to ensure the client brief was met. This included many timber veneered finishes, from a number of supply chain partners, the veneer that each supply chain partner used for their element of works (Doors, Wall Panelling, Joinery) had to be obtained from the same veneer batch so as to match. Other finishes included timber flooring from Dinesen (Denmark), Terrazzo and Lindner Panelling (Germany). Once procurement was complete I then lead the commercial team in the day to day running of the project, dealing with numerous client variations as well as internal design changes in relation to CDP (Contractor Design Portion) packages.

Since completion, the Design Museum has been seen on Television many times, from the Parker Pen advert through to staging the finals of both series of Channel 4’s Lego Masters.