Pictured above: Computer generated artist's impression of
the new Mary Rose Museum: Wilkinson Eyre Architects
EIC has won the contract to provide mechanical and electrical
services for the much anticipated Mary Rose Museum project at
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The Warwickshire-based national
building services provider will undertake installation of the
critical environmental systems for this exciting new £35m
project.
Working closely with the Mary Rose Trust, and alongside main
contractor Warings and engineers from Gifford, EIC will be
responsible for the precision heating, ventilation and humidity
systems and controls that will maintain the correct environmental
conditions for the conservation of one of the most famous ships in
history, Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose.
The striking building, designed by Wilkinson Eyre, is being
built around the 500 year old hull which is too delicate to be
moved. For the last three decades, since she was raised from the
seabed in 1982, the fragile hull has been housed at Portsmouth
Historic Dockyard, alongside the renowned flagship of Admiral Lord
Nelson, HMS Victory.
The complex conservation programme employed since the Mary Rose
was raised, has seen the constant spraying of a water based
solution, polyethylene glycol. This will end in 2011 when the hull
will enter its final conservation phase, controlled air drying. The
new museum is scheduled to open in autumn 2012.
Darren Parrish, EIC South regional director, said: "Although we
are always innovating, rarely do we get the chance to work on such
an exciting scheme and be part of history in this way. The
conservation of this historic ship is of huge national importance
and the Mary Rose Museum project is incredibly prestigious, it is a
genuine honour to be involved.
"We have an enormous responsibility to make sure the systems and
controls we install are both accurate and robust, in order to
protect this national treasure. The building's striking external
design is complemented by the technologically advanced internal
systems which provide us with the opportunity to demonstrate the
experience and expertise which was behind our being appointed to
this scheme."
EIC will undertake the installation of the Hanwell system which
monitors the environmental conditions within the Ship Hall and
other areas of close environmental control. The contractor will
also be responsible for the general lighting, heating and
ventilation requirements of the visitor areas and other exhibition
zones.
Andy Owen, senior project manager for Warings Contractors, said:
"We appointed EIC on the basis of their strong track record in
delivering complex, multi service contracts, and also with the
knowledge of the enabling works that was completed earlier this
year, and are delighted to welcome them to this exciting
project."
The contract is being delivered by EIC's South regional office,
based in Lymington, Hampshire. Headquartered in Warwickshire, EIC
offers both engineered facilities management and engineered
building services which enables clients to access a package which
is tailored to match their requirements. With a 24-hour "helpdesk"
facility and a network of 13 regional offices - from Scotland to
Cornwall - EIC can meet the needs of both local and national firms,
wherever they are located.