Porter Gallery

Quinn London was contracted to replace the glazed roof of the Porter Gallery at the grade I listed V&A museum. Additionally, we carried out remedial works to the slate roofs, lead work, and internal plaster works and decorations. The scope of the project included floor protection, hoardings/dust protection to the entrance to the Porter Gallery, access scaffolding to the interior of Porter Gallery, and temporary roof and scaffolding to protect the gallery below while the glazed roofing was replaced. We also completed remedial works to slate roofs and lead work, installed barriers/balustrades to each longitudinal edge of the roof, completed fibrous plaster repairs to earlier opening up works, and redecorated the ceiling/walls.

Despite working in a live environment, the museum, excluding the Porter Gallery, remained open throughout the duration of the works. QLL minimised the impact on the museum by installing full-height hoarding to all openings, sealing the site off completely. The noise transfer was reduced, and all dust arising from the works was contained. Control of dust was a priority for the client team, and QLL received very positive feedback from the V&A team, as the project was carried out with minimal disruption to the museum and its visitors.

All site deliveries were required to take place between 08:00 and 09:45 every day, and unloading (and reloading) sufficient volumes of scaffolding within these time frames was a key challenge. The delivery dates and times were clearly communicated to subcontractors prior to placing subcontract orders and commencement on-site, and these restrictions were written into subcontract orders.

QLL’s successful delivery of this project has built a positive relationship with the V&A. The feedback received from the V&A was that the Porter Gallery is the first project to ever complete early.

• GRADE I LISTED
• OCCUPIED BUILDING