Millcroft has been awarded the second phase of a remodelling project at the at the Royal Academy of Arts (RA).
Founded in 1769, the RA is the country’s oldest art school, located in Piccadilly, London. The project, which is led by main contractor, Knight Harwood, will see the transformation of the Grade II listed RA Schools space to provide a fully accessible, flexible and high-quality work environment for its staff and students.
As the building is based in central London, the project presents logistical challenges in terms of access, which can only take place through the ‘West Yard’ of the building using small, rigid transport.
The 56-week construction programme for the careful restoration and enhancement of the historic building involves extensive structural alterations and the replacement of existing glazing and roof finishes. A new studio suite and workshops will be introduced along with a library and leisure facilities.
Millcroft will provide a mixture of access and temporary roof enclosure solutions to the building and include site accommodation support gantry with multi-level access, demolition decks for roof removal and exposing areas of façade.
The team will also provide access scaffolding for soft strip works, temporary roof containment, full access scaffolding for new extension and renovating works, support scaffold cantilever platforms over existing roof levels and numerous running beam lifting rails, as well as system staircase access.
Knight Harwood engaged Millcroft for the project because of the company’s proven track record in providing scaffolding solutions to historic and fragile buildings including the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich and the Grade II listed stately home, Athlone House, in Highgate.
Billy Jones, Managing Director at Millcroft, said: “This contract adds to our portfolio of work on historical and listed properties which we love to do. We are looking forward to contributing to the remodelling of this iconic building.”
The Royal Academy of Arts has existed for more than 250 years to champion art and artists and is Britain's longest-established art school. The annual Summer Exhibition, held since 1768, is the largest open-submission exhibition in the world. The RA presents its collection in free displays and puts on world-class exhibitions of art from around the world.
